Abstract. The effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an ethylene action inhibitor, on softening and storage performance of plum fruit cv. Stanley treated and untreated before harvest with ethephon was determined. Ethephon treatment slightly accelerated plum fruit ripening whereas the application of 1-MCP immediately after picking counteracted considerably softening of plums both treated and untreated on the tree with ethephon during their shelf life period after different time of storage in cold room. Plums sprayed with ethephon contained more soluble solids but they did not differ in susceptibility to internal breakdown. 1-MCP treatment did not affect the internal breakdown development at all, however, it improved plum firmness significantly.

Ethylene production, ripening and storage performance
in plums (Prunus domestica L.) cv. Stanley treated
with ethephon before harvest and with 1-MCP after harvest

Summary

Spraying plum trees cultivar ‘Stanley’ with ethephon one week before picking slightly accelerated plum fruit softening on the tree and it had a considerable effect on their postharvest softening during storage at –0.5°C. 1-MCP treatment of fruits just after picking inhibited slightly softening of untreated (control) plums during shelf life period after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of cold storage but it had a considerable effect on the postharvest firmness maintenance in plums treated with ethephon in preharvest time. However, 1-MCP treatment did not have any influence on internal breakdown development in those plums.