Assessment of different 1-methylcyclopropene doses on physical and chemical quality of organically grown tomato cv. Zoro

Ripening of tomato has been widely studied with the main purpose to extend tomato storage. Effects of 250, 500 and 750 nl l-1 doses of ethylene inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on quality of organically grown tomato cv. Zoro were compared to control during 28 days of storage in this research. Open field grown tomato fruits were harvested at pink stage from a local farm that is located in Adana province of Turkey. Harvested fruits were sorted according to size and color and immediately exposed at different doses of 1-MCP at 20°C during 20 h and stored at 13°C and 90-95% relative humidity. Quality measurements started after treatment and analyses of trials were done weekly during storage period. The data showed that all doses of 1-MCP were effective on reducing the weight losses during storage period. Tomato fruit pulp firmness tended to decrease during storage. The higher 1-MCP application dose had the higher firmness mean value at the end of storage, while the firmness decreased dramatically in control fruits. 1-MCP applications also were effective on delaying the losses of titratable acidity, fruit skin colour change and total soluble solid after the storage period. Since tomato is considered as a climacteric fruit, ethylene production has an ample role on maturation stage during the storage period. Fruit initial ethylene production and respiration rate were also decreased by application of 1-MCP comparing to control tomatoes depending on different application doses. Results of this study showed that 500 and 750 nl l-1 doses of 1-MCP application increased the overall quality of tomatoes after 28 days of storage