Comparative response of 1-methylcyclopropene and KMnO₄ on post-harvest behaviour of mango

Mango, being a climacteric fruit, has short shelf-life because of fast ripening followed by senescence accompanied with quality changes and decay loss. To extend the shelf-life, various treatments viz., control, 50 and 100 ppm 1-MCP for 24 hours and KMnO₄ impregnated in chalk sticks were imposed to mango cv. Lucknow Safeda and stored under ambient condition (30 ± 3°C and 70–80% RH). Various storage attributes were studied at successive stages of storage. In general, CPLW, yellowness index, evolution of ethylene and TSS increased while firmness, greenness and acidity contents decreased on prolonging the storage period. Among various treatments, 100 ppm 1-MCP was found most effective for extending the shelf-life for 3 days higher over non-treated fruits, as it delayed ripening, resulted in more firmness, imparted attractive bright yellow colour, palatable and TSS/acid blend coupled with minimum spoilage.