Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene on surface wax and related gene expression in cold-stored 'Hongxiangsu' pears.

BACKGROUND: Surface wax protects fruit from dehydration and pathogen erosion during storage. The surface wax of pears changes greatly during storage. In this work, the effect of ethylene action inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene on wax accumulation and related gene expression in 'Hongxiangsu' pears during cold storage was investigated.

RESULTS: The alkanes, alkenes, fatty acids, esters, aldehydes and triterpenoids on the fruit surface accumulated and peaked at day 180, but fatty alcohols decreased before day 90 and then increased in the control. Treatment with 1-MCP (1.0 µL L-1 ) reduced surface wax at day 180 of storage. Compared with the control, the wax crystals became smaller in 1-MCP-treated fruit on days 90 and 270. The 1-MCP decreased the expression levels of ethylene synthesis, perception and signal genes ACS1, ACO1, ERS1, ETR2, ERF1 and wax-related genes (LACS1, LACS2, KCS2, KCS9, KCS20, FDH, CER6, CER10, LTPG1, LTP3, LTP4, ABCG11 and ABCG12).

CONCLUSION: These results suggested that 1-MCP suppressed ethylene synthesis and signal-pathway and wax-related gene expression; it also reduced the wax and the size of crystals on the fruit surface in cold-stored 'Hongxiangsu' pears. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.