Effect on shelf life and quality of fruit and vegetables by postharvest treatment with 1-MCP: A Review

Rapid rate of ripening in freshly harvested fruit and vegetables due to its climacteric ripening behaviour has direct implications on its self life, quality and postharvest management. In India, huge losses (25–40%) occur due to glut of fruit and vegetable crops in the market during a particular crop season. Poor orchard management system and non-availability of cost-effective, safe and simple method for delaying the ripening of harvested fruit and vegetable crops creates the problems pertaining to its storage, proper distribution, marketing, price fluctuation and net returns to the farmers. As a consequence quantitative as well as qualitative losses, consumption, nutritional status and processing aspects are adversely affected. The plant hormone ethylene is one of the prime regulators of ripening in fruit and vegetable crops. So for delaying the ripening, one approach involves inhibition of ethylene action. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is an ethylene action inhibitor that delays ripening of many fruit and vegetable crops. It is very effective in delaying the ripening and ripening-related changes in fruit and vegetable crops. This review paper aims to provide an update on 1-MCP along with a critical evaluation of scope, prospects and potential of using 1-MCP in fruit and vegetables.