Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on storage life and quality of pear fruits.

Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm) Nakai) fruits of cultivar 'Patharnakh' were harvested at optimum maturity and treated with 500, 750 and 1000 ppb concentration of 1-MCP gaseous vapours for 4 h in a closed chamber maintained at 20°C. After treatments the fruits were packed in corrugated fibre board cartons and stored at 0-1°C and 90-95% RH. Fruits treated with 1000 ppb 1-MCP recorded minimum weight loss, maintained acceptable firmness and quality attributes till 75 days of storage. The stored fruits also retained post-storage shelf life for 3 days at ambient conditions (30-35°C and 60-65% RH) and 6 days at supermarket conditions (20°C and 85-90% RH).