Research Progress on the Mechanism of Action of 1-MCP and Its Application in Postharvest Fruits and Vegetables Storage

Storage and preservation of fruits and vegetables is the primary issue in the development of fruit and vegetable industry. Ethylene is an important factor to promote fruit ripening and senescence. 1-methylcyclopropene can be widely used as ethylene receptor inhibitor for preservation of fruits with respiratory saltation variation,which can effectively delay the subs-equent ripening,softening and rotting,and extend the fruit freshness preservation period. The effects of the treatment of 1-methylcyclopropene on the post-harvest quality of various fruits and vegetables in recent years were summarized in this paper. 1-MCP is treated separately and used in combination with physical and chemical methods to the fruits and vegetables. This paper reviewed the mechanism of fruit and vegetable’s appearance and texture,nutrition quality,enzyme activity,flavor and gene regulation and so on.1-MCP has positive effects on maintaining fruit hardness and aroma components,delaying color change,slowing down the reduction of titrable acid,soluble solids and antioxidant components,inhibiting the activity of cellulase,peroxidase and other enzymes,and preventing physiological disorders etc.However,there are still some deficiencies in concentration and action time,microbial control,loss of volatile ester and alcohol,and selection of gene regulatory pathways and so on. In order to provide references for more accurate and effective application of 1-MCP in the fruit and vegetable market,avoid waste after harvest and further promote the development of fruit and vegetable industry,the advantages and disadvantages of the preservation of 1-MCP were elaborated in this paper.