Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene on quality and storage life of Pak Choy (Brassica rapa var. chinensis)

Abstract

Pak choy plants were treated with 1-MCP at 1 tablet (7,200 nl.L-1), ½ tablet (3,600 nl.L-1), and ¼ tablet (1,800 nl.L-1) for 6 hours compared to a control (without 1-MCP) to investigate the effect of 1-MCP on delaying senescence of pak choy during storage at room temperature (28.14±0.03°C; 38.35±69.55% RH) or at low
temperature (3.64 ± 0.04°C (75.95±0.19% RH), and then sprayed with ethephon prior to storage at room temperature
(27.83±0.02°C; 49.32 ±0.14% RH). It was found that 1-MCP had little effect on extending storage life of pak choy stored at room temperature. In contrast, the efficiency of 1-MCP increased in the presence of ethylene (using ethephon in this study). This led to a significant increase in storage life to 3 days from only 2 days of an ethephon treatment. An application of 1-MCP at ½ tablet for 6 hours seems to be the best condition to maintain postharvest

quality of pak choy at low temperature. 1-MCP could delay color of leaves with good external appearance and remained freshness of pak choy associated with a change in h0 value. The storage life could be significantly extended to 14.25 days at cool room temperature. However, 1-MCP had no effect on weight loss and chlorophyll level at both storage temperatures in this study.