1-Methylcyclopropene Can Differentially Affect the Postharvest Life of Strawberries Exposed to Ethylene

Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) fruit were fumigated for 2 hours at 20 °C with 1-mcp at concentrations from 5 to 500 nL.L -1 , then held at 20 and 5 °C in air containing 0.1 μL.L -1 ethylene. Fumigation with 1-mcp at 5 to 15 nL.L -1 extended the postharvest life by 35% at 20 °C and 150% at 5 °C, but at higher 1-mcp concentrations there was an accelerated loss of quality with a 30% to 60% decrease in postharvest life at 500 nL.L -1 at both 20 and 5 °C. Chemical name used: 1-methylcyclopropene (1-mcp).