Introduction. Rose apple fruit ripens on the tree, has a thin peel, soft
flesh and deteriorates quickly after harvest. Water loss contributes to rapid
deterioration. 1-MCP can extend the postharvest life of non-climacteric fruits either
directly through its effect as an ethylene blocker or through indirect effects.
Materials and methods. We investigated the effect of 1-MCP
(1 µL·L–1) on shelf life and quality of Rose apple fruits (Syzygium
jambos Alston) cv. Tabtim Chan. Fruit were exposed to 1-MCP for (0, 6, 12, 18
or 24) h, then stored at (15 ± 1) °C for 12 days. Subsequently, we investigated the effect
of 1-MCP (1 µL·L–1) for 12 h on fruit stored at 5 °C or 10 °C. Weight loss,
skin colour, total soluble solids, fruit firmness and percentage of diseased fruit were
measured during storage. Results. 1-MCP reduced weight loss from about 13% of initial
weight to 6%, irrespective of the time of exposure. 1-MCP applied to fruit for 12 h or
18 h increased firmness from 3.2 N to 3.8 N and more than halved the percentage of fruit
showing disease. Exposure to 1-MCP for 12 h or 18 h was optimum for reducing disease.
1-MCP for 12 h and storage at (10 ± 1) °C doubled shelf life to 24 days compared with
fruit stored at the same temperature, but without 1-MCP. Storage at less than 10 °C did
not extend shelf life any further. Conclusion. 1-MCP extended the shelf life
of Rose apple fruit by reducing weight loss, maintaining flesh firmness and slowing
disease development.