Objectives

The aim of this work was to analyse the effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on the metabolisms of membrane lipids in postharvest Anxi persimmons during storage.

Materials and methods

Anxi persimmon (Diospyros kaki L. f. cv. Anxi) fruits were treated by paper containing 1-MCP with a concentration of 1.35 μl/l. The cellular membrane permeability was analysed by the electric conductivity meter. The activities of lipoxygenase (LOX), phospholipase (PLD) and lipase were determined by spectrophotometry. The component and relative amounts of membrane fatty acids were determined using gas chromatograph (GC).

Results

The 1-MCP-treated Anxi persimmons manifested a lower electrolyte leakage rate, lower LOX, PLD and lipase activities, higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs), higher ratio of USFAs to saturated fatty acids (SFAs) (U/S), higher index of USFAs (IUFA), but lower levels of SFAs.

Conclusions

The degradation and the metabolisms of membrane lipids could be suppressed by 1-MCP treatment, which might be accountable for the delaying softening of postharvest Anxi persimmons during storage.