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The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on the development of chilling injury (CI) symptoms in four plum cultivars and to determine the relationship between the climacteric behaviorof the cultivar and its sensitivity to this disorder. Significant differences in ripening pattern were found between thecultivars after long-term storage. Among the climacteric cultivars, ‘Royal Zee’ plums showed a higher ethylene production rate than ‘Linda Rosa and ‘Friar’ cultivars. On the other hand, the ‘Angeleno’ cultivar behaved as a suppressed climacteric type. The development of translucency symptoms was higher in ‘Royal Zee’ than in ‘Linda Rosa’ and ‘Friar’ plums, and was almost absent in the suppressed climacteric cultivar. 1-MCP treatment significantly reduced ethylene production and the percentage of fruit affected by translucency in all climacteric cultivars. This treatment also delayed the ripening of the fruit during shelf life. In contrast, 1-MCP treatment did not affect the quality of ‘Angeleno’ plums. Collectively these results suggest that the development of chilling injury in plums is related to the climacteric behavior of the cultivar and demonstrated the beneficial effects of 1-MCP maintaining plum quality during storage.

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Rapid softening is one of the most important factors that limits the market life of plums. To avoid this problem, 'Blackamber' plums were treated with 0, 150, 300 and 600 ppb of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and their quality evaluated after 15, 30 and 50 days of storage at 0 ºC, immediately and after 6 days at 25 ºC. 1-MCP treatment effectively decreased ethylene production during storage and shelf-life in fruits kept 15 and 30 days at 0 ºC. In contrast, fruits kept for 50 days at 0 ºC showed a significant increase in ethylene production during shelf-life. Changes in ethylene production by 1-MCP were associated with a decrease of firmness loss and maintenance of titratable acidity but not with the development of red flesh colour. Soluble solids content of the fruit was not affected by the 1-MCP treatment. In this assay no significant symptoms of chilling injury (CI) or rot were observed. Overall, the results presented in this assay ascertained ethylene on quality changes in 'Blackamber' plums. They also showed that 1-MCP could be considered commercially to improve the storage life and resistance to mechanical bruising in 'Blackamber' plums without prejudicial effects on quality.