Ethylene Control Technologies in Extending Postharvest Shelf Life of Climacteric Fruit

Abstract

Fresh fruit is important for a healthy diet. However, because of their seasonal production, regional specific cultivation, and perishable nature, it is essential to develop preservation technologies to extend the postharvest shelf life of fresh fruits. Climacteric fruit adopt spoilage because of ethylene, a key hormone associated with the ripening process. Therefore, controlling ethylene activity by following safe and effective approaches is a key to extend the postharvest shelf life of fruit. In this review, ethylene control technologies will be discussed aiming for the need of developing more innovative and effective approaches. The biosynthesis pathway will be given first. Then, the technologies determining the postharvest shelf life of climacteric fruit will be described with special attention to the latest and significant published works in this field. Special attention is given to 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), which is effective in fruit preservation technologies. Finally, the encapsulation technology to improve the stability of 1-MCP will be proposed, using a potential encapsulation agent of 1-MCP, calixarene.

A microcapsule oil dispersion for the controlled release of 1-methylcyclopropene in an open environment

“…The ground under the trees was cleaned of fruit and leaves just before the treatments. The fruit trees were treated in the airtight environment using the plastic tents (3 m  3 m  4 m ¼ 36 m 3 ) or in the open environment. The spray treatments were applied with a hand sprayer.…”

“…As a plant growth regulator, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is an effectively irreversible ethylene action inhibitor in fruits, vegetables, owers and crops. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] In the gaseous state, 1-MCP acts as a highly efficient and non-toxic pesticide. 8,9 However, 1-MCP is chemically unstable under normal environmental conditions and presents an explosive hazard when compressed.…”

Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene on postharvest quality of Roxo-de-Valinhos fresh ripe figs

“…it blocks ethylene receptors and can be used to control ethylene production, respiration rate, and softening and extends the shelf-life of a wide range of fruits (Freiman et al, 2012;Sozzi et al, 2005;Terra et al, 2014;Watkins, 2008). However, 1-MCP applications on fruits may not always have similar results on the postharvest quality since its effect has been shown to vary according to the climacteric fruit species, cultivar, maturation and ripening stages of the fruit, and 1-MCP application forms (Freiman et al, 2012;Sozzi et al, 2005; Watkins, 2006;Zhang et al, 2017).…”

Transcriptomic Analysis on the Regulation of Tomato Ripening by the Ethylene Inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene

“…Ripened fruits with aromatic compounds and vivid pigmentation attract animal bites to facilitate their seed dispersal. Fruit ripening is regulated by temperature, gas content in the atmosphere, humidity, and plant hormones such as ethylene (Zhang et al, 2017).…”

“…Application of exogenous ethylene to unripe tomatoes stimulated fruit ripening whereas inhibitors blocking ethylene synthesis and/or action delayed tomato ripening (Giovannoni, 2001). 1-MCP is very effective and non-toxic, it has been used widely in the food industry to prolong the post-harvest shelf life of climacteric fruits (Zhang et al, 2017). EthyBloc® and SmartFresh® are the two commercially available products for 1-MCP for ornamentals and fruit and vegetables, respectively.…”