POST-HARVEST CONSERVATION OF ‘TOMMY ATKINS’ MANGOESTREATED WITH 1-METHYLCYCLOPROPANE

The present study had the objective of evaluating the post-harvest conservation of ‘Tommy Atkins’ mangoes, treated with different concentrations of 1-MCP, stored under refrigeration. The treatments were several concentrations of 1-MCP, 0, 100, 300 and 600 nL L-1 , for 12 hours in isolated chambers at temperature of 25°C. After opening the chambers, fruits were stored at temperatures of 25° C, 75±5% of RH and 10° C, 70± 5% of RH for 28 days. The experimental design was a completely randomized in a factorial 4 x 6 x 2. Four repetitions were used per treatment, with five fruits per plot. The analyzed variables were the loss of mass, the firmness, the vitamin C, the total and reducer sugars and the carotenoids contents. Under the conditions in which the experiment was carried out, it can be concluded that: post-harvest applications of 1-MCP on ‘Tommy Atkins’ mangoes were effective in reducing the physiological metabolism of fruits maturation; 1-MCP and refrigeration associated were effective in keeping fruits stored for 28 days after harvesting; the 1-MCP concentration of 600 nL L -1 was considered the most efficient in reducing the ripening of fruits at 10°C and 25°C.