Inhibition of Ethylene Binding and Biosynthesis Maintains Fruit Quality of ‘Formosa’ Plums during Postharvest Storage

This study was conducted to develop an ethylene inhibition method using aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to improve postharvest quality and extend the shelf life of plums (Prunus subg. Prunus ‘Formosa’). Plums were sprayed preharvest with 150 mg·L -1 AVG and postharvest with 1 μL·L -1 1-MCP for 24 h. The results revealed that the combined treatment with AVG and 1-MCP (AVG+1-MCP) effectively suppressed skin color change, flesh firmness reduction, decay, and weight loss of plum fruit during postharvest storage. The acidity ratio was also significantly maintained during storage in AVG+1-MCP treated groups. The transcript levels of ethylene biosynthesis genes (PsACS3, PsACS4, and PsACO1) showed the same pattern as the amount of ethylene produced in plums. AVG+1-MCP treatment significantly inhibited transcript levels of PsACS3, PsACS4, and PsACO1 and the reduction in expression of signaling genes (PsETR1, PsERS1, and PsCTR1), resulting in a longer shelf life compared to the untreated control plums. Inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis and binding effectively suppressed senescence and ripening of plum fruit that show a climacteric rise of ethylene synthesis and respiration. Additional key words: ethylene inhibitor, gene expression, Prunus subg. Prunus, ripening, shelf life