Postharvest conservation of charentais melons treated with 1-MCP and stored under refrigeration and modified atmosphere

Aiming to evaluate the postharvest shelf life of Charentais melon (Cucumis melo L.) stored under refrigeration, the fruits were treated with 1-MCP, associated or not with modified atmosphere (MAP). Two experiments were carried out at the laboratory of Embrapa Agroindustria Tropical in Fortaleza, Brazil, analyzing the chemical and physic quality characteristics. The fruits were obtained at the Agroindustria Nolem Comercial Importadora e Exportadora Ltda, located in Mossoro Ago, Brazil. The fruits were treated with 300 and 600 nL L-1 of 1-MCP, half of those were wrapped in plastic films, which were wrapped without the use of 1-MCP in the same conditions of storage. The melons were stored during 21 days, being 14 days (9 +/- 1 degrees C and 87 +/- 5% UR) + 7 days (22 +/- 2 degrees C and 70 +/- 5% UR). Based on external appearance, postharvest shelf life of the fruits stored under modified atmosphere, with or without initial treatment of 1-MCP was 21 days, while in fruits treated initially only with 1-MCP, it was 19 days. The application of the 1-MCP provided reduction in the respiratory activity and ethylene production, and higher flesh firmness retention, smaller weight loss and better external appearance, when associated the modified atmosphere. The modified atmosphere, separately, was efficient to reduce the weight loss and to maintain better external appearance.