Dual preharvest application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) aqueous spray controls mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. 'Carabao') ripening

T he Philippine ‘Carabao’ mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. ‘Carabao’), one of the major fruit exports of the country, poses difficulties in the control of its ripening due to induction of ethylene biosynthesis before harvest maturity at about 100 days after flower induction (DAFI). To control its ripening after harvest, the ethylene antagonist, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was applied as an aqueous spray at 10 ppm concentration to on-tree mango fruits at 100 DAFI. Four (4) sets of fruits were tagged for a second round of 1-MCP spraying. One set was sprayed the second time at 105 DAFI, while the remaining sets at 110, 115 and 120 DAFI respectively. The positive control was sprayed with water only while the negative control was not sprayed. The fruits were harvested at 120 DAFI and stored at 13C. Mango fruits sprayed at 100 then at 115 DAFI showed significantly slowest peel color development and deterioration in visual quality among the other treatments and controls. This treatment also exhibited significantly least disease severity. Firmness did not vary significantly among treatments. Occurrence of the peak in ethylene production after harvest was delayed for 4 days with the treatment sprayed at 100 then at 115 DAFI compared with the control fruits. Dual preharvest application of 1-MCP, first at 100 then at 115 DAFI was able to control ripening of mango and extend shelf-life to about 4 days. To the best of our knowledge, this is