Evaluation of the Potency of Aqueous 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) Application in Carrots

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of aqueous 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on postharvest quality of carrots and to compare with/to gaseous 1-MCP and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) treatments. Carrots initially washed with tap water were distributed into 4 batches the first of which was subject to aqueous 1-MCP application, the second to the gaseous 1-MCP application, the third to MAP and the fourth left non-treated as a control. Carrots were placed in clamshell polyethene terephthalate (PET) boxes except MAP-treated ones and stored 23 ± 1°C for 10 days. During the 10-day period, carrots were evaluated by tracking weight loss, firmness, color, headspace gas composition, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, carotenoid content and decays. The results showed that gaseous 1-MCP application may have the potential for delaying postharvest quality losses by restricting decay ratios for carrots held at room temperature. Aqueous 1-MCP and MAP applications were however found to be inefficient suppressing or delaying postharvest quality losses.