Deciphering the Effect of Postharvest 1-MCP Treatment Coupled with Low-Temperature Storage on the Physiological Activities and Edible Quality of Melon

Fruits are an important source of a healthy diet due to their essential nutrients for daily intake. Melon is known as a significant fruit crop of the Cucurbitaceae family based on its various dietary benefits, but its shelf life needs to be maintained for long-term usage. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP...

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Main Authors: Haofei Wang, Zhiyi Yang, Sikandar Amanullah, Huilin Wang, Bin Liu, Shi Liu, Tiantian Yang, Chaonan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/586
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author Haofei Wang
Zhiyi Yang
Sikandar Amanullah
Huilin Wang
Bin Liu
Shi Liu
Tiantian Yang
Chaonan Wang
author_facet Haofei Wang
Zhiyi Yang
Sikandar Amanullah
Huilin Wang
Bin Liu
Shi Liu
Tiantian Yang
Chaonan Wang
author_sort Haofei Wang
collection DOAJ
description Fruits are an important source of a healthy diet due to their essential nutrients for daily intake. Melon is known as a significant fruit crop of the Cucurbitaceae family based on its various dietary benefits, but its shelf life needs to be maintained for long-term usage. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is a cyclopropene-derived synthetic plant growth regulator (PGR) that is used for significantly delaying the ripening process and maintaining the shelf life of climacteric fruits during storage. In this study, freshly harvested melon fruits were fumigated with various concentrations (1.0 µL·L<sup>−1</sup>, 2.0 µL·L<sup>−1</sup>, and 3.0 µL·L<sup>−1</sup>) of 1-MCP treatment for 12 h (h) and stored at low temperature (8 ± 1 °C) for 30 days (d). The obtained results showed that 1-MCP fumigation coupled with low-temperature treatment maintains the postharvest shelf life of melon fruit. It was noticed that the increase in color hue (a* (red/green), b* (blue/yellow), L* (lightness)) was slowed down and the external fresh color was effectively maintained. At the same time, the firmness, soluble solids, titratable acids (TAs), and vitamin C (VC) content seemed to be maintained at a high level; weight loss and cell permeability were reduced; respiratory intensity and ethylene emission were inhibited; and the accumulation of superoxide anions and malondialdehyde (MDA) was also reduced. In addition, an upsurge in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was noticed in melon fruits under the combined treatment of 1-MCP and low-temperature storage as compared with the control group (CK, without treatment), indicating that 1-MCP treatment can effectively enhance the antioxidant metabolism of melon fruits during storage. Overall, we can recommend that the 3.0 µL·L<sup>−1</sup> concentration of 1-MCP had the best effect on maintaining the internal and external quality of sweet melon fruit during storage.
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spelling doaj-art-a3736468bbcd497f86e83e4dfd52a7312025-08-20T02:03:27ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114458610.3390/plants14040586Deciphering the Effect of Postharvest 1-MCP Treatment Coupled with Low-Temperature Storage on the Physiological Activities and Edible Quality of MelonHaofei Wang0Zhiyi Yang1Sikandar Amanullah2Huilin Wang3Bin Liu4Shi Liu5Tiantian Yang6Chaonan Wang7College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaDepartment of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759, USACollege of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaHami Melon Research Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaFruits are an important source of a healthy diet due to their essential nutrients for daily intake. Melon is known as a significant fruit crop of the Cucurbitaceae family based on its various dietary benefits, but its shelf life needs to be maintained for long-term usage. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is a cyclopropene-derived synthetic plant growth regulator (PGR) that is used for significantly delaying the ripening process and maintaining the shelf life of climacteric fruits during storage. In this study, freshly harvested melon fruits were fumigated with various concentrations (1.0 µL·L<sup>−1</sup>, 2.0 µL·L<sup>−1</sup>, and 3.0 µL·L<sup>−1</sup>) of 1-MCP treatment for 12 h (h) and stored at low temperature (8 ± 1 °C) for 30 days (d). The obtained results showed that 1-MCP fumigation coupled with low-temperature treatment maintains the postharvest shelf life of melon fruit. It was noticed that the increase in color hue (a* (red/green), b* (blue/yellow), L* (lightness)) was slowed down and the external fresh color was effectively maintained. At the same time, the firmness, soluble solids, titratable acids (TAs), and vitamin C (VC) content seemed to be maintained at a high level; weight loss and cell permeability were reduced; respiratory intensity and ethylene emission were inhibited; and the accumulation of superoxide anions and malondialdehyde (MDA) was also reduced. In addition, an upsurge in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was noticed in melon fruits under the combined treatment of 1-MCP and low-temperature storage as compared with the control group (CK, without treatment), indicating that 1-MCP treatment can effectively enhance the antioxidant metabolism of melon fruits during storage. Overall, we can recommend that the 3.0 µL·L<sup>−1</sup> concentration of 1-MCP had the best effect on maintaining the internal and external quality of sweet melon fruit during storage.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/5861-MCPmelonpostharvestqualityphysiologyshelf life
spellingShingle Haofei Wang
Zhiyi Yang
Sikandar Amanullah
Huilin Wang
Bin Liu
Shi Liu
Tiantian Yang
Chaonan Wang
Deciphering the Effect of Postharvest 1-MCP Treatment Coupled with Low-Temperature Storage on the Physiological Activities and Edible Quality of Melon
Plants
1-MCP
melon
postharvest
quality
physiology
shelf life
title Deciphering the Effect of Postharvest 1-MCP Treatment Coupled with Low-Temperature Storage on the Physiological Activities and Edible Quality of Melon
title_full Deciphering the Effect of Postharvest 1-MCP Treatment Coupled with Low-Temperature Storage on the Physiological Activities and Edible Quality of Melon
title_fullStr Deciphering the Effect of Postharvest 1-MCP Treatment Coupled with Low-Temperature Storage on the Physiological Activities and Edible Quality of Melon
title_full_unstemmed Deciphering the Effect of Postharvest 1-MCP Treatment Coupled with Low-Temperature Storage on the Physiological Activities and Edible Quality of Melon
title_short Deciphering the Effect of Postharvest 1-MCP Treatment Coupled with Low-Temperature Storage on the Physiological Activities and Edible Quality of Melon
title_sort deciphering the effect of postharvest 1 mcp treatment coupled with low temperature storage on the physiological activities and edible quality of melon
topic 1-MCP
melon
postharvest
quality
physiology
shelf life
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/586
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