Management of Pear Fruit Ripening with 1-Methylcyclopropene (MCP)
Author: James Mattheis
Published: 2001
Summary: A primary objective of postharvest management of pears is to prolong storage life by reducing the rate of fruit ripening. The combination of optimum maturity, refrigeration, postharvest chemical treatments and controlled atmosphere storage slow ripening and reduce physiological disorders and decay. Controlled atmosphere storage in particular reduces ethylene production as well as the capacity of fruit to respond to ethylene, responses that provide the residual effects of CA after fruit is removed from storage. Because of the importance of ethylene in regulating the processes of fruit ripening, practices that interfere with its production and/or action are useful in the commercial storage of pears.
