Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene application on quality characteristics of stored Amasya apples

In this study, effects of 1-Methylcylopropene treatment on quality parameters of stored Amasya apples were investigated. Apples obtained from a commercial apple orchard were divided into two groups, one was control group and the other group was treated with 625 ppb 1-MCP. They were stored at 0 ± 1°C with 90-95% relative humidity for 6 months. According to the results obtained 1-MCP treatment had positive effects on decreasing respiration rate, suppressing external ethylene production, maintaining hardness of fruit flesh while no positive effects were observed on loss of fruit weight, preventing surface color loss, formation of superficial scald, total titratable acidity, soluble solid contents and starch level. The decrease in total phenolic content of the apples treated with 1-MCP was higher than the control group. There was little change in the antioxidant capacity of the control and 1-MCP-treated samples determined by two different methods. Polyphenol oxidase activity increased in both groups during storage.