This study was carried out whit the objective to verify the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and methyl salicylate (MeSA) in chilling injury control of 'Fukuhara' loquat fruit. It was applied four concentrations of 1-MCP (0, 50, 500 e 5,000nL L-1) and 0,01mM of MeSA associated or not to 500nL L-1 of 1-MCP. The fruit were stored at 1°C during 60 days. The variables analyzed were flesh firmness, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids content, ascorbic acid content and activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO). After 60 days of cold storage, there was no development of internal browning in fruit treated with 1-MCP and MeSA. Fruits without treatment showed higher levels of internal browning and high activity of PPO enzyme. All treatments showed increase of flesh firmness during cold storage.
Eriobotrya japonica; internal browning; firmness; cold storage
