Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Greater Noida Expressway, Sector 125, Noida, 201303, India
* Author for correspondence: E-mail: kmathur@amity.edu
Online published on 16 January, 2012.
1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was used to test its potential to prolong the shelf life of elite Indian tomato cultivar (Lycopersicon esculentum cv Pusa Sheetal) and study its effect on pivotal biochemical processes associated with ripening in climacteric fruits. MCP treatment (1 ppm) at mature green stage effectively prolonged the shelf life of cv. Pusa Sheetal for 10 days and maintained the fruits fresh and green for 10 days. Ethylene production and respiration in MCP treated fruits were completely inhibited for ten days. Thus the treatment of elite Indian tomato cultivar Pusa Sheetal with 1-MCP extended its shelf life effectively and hence 1MCP technology can shoulder a promising future in India to overcome postharvest economic losses.
1-methylcyclopropene, ethylene, climacteric fruits, Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato)
