The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the 1-MCP, at different concentrations, on quality and shelf life of 'Apple' banana. Green mature fruits were submitted to five concentrations of 1-MCP (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 etaL.L-1, for 12 hours) and analyzed during the ripening at room temperature (20ºC ± 1 and 80% ± 5 RH ). The 1-MCP at 50 etaL.L-1 delayed, in 8 days, the begining of the ripening, based in the first changes of peel color, whereas 100, 150 and 200 etaL.L-1 treatments delayed the begining of the ripening in 10 days, in comparison to the control. The softening of the fruits, associated to the conversion of starch in sugar and the increasing in the pectic solubilization and activity of pectinmethylsterase and polygalacturonase, was observed during the ripening. The application of 50 etaL.L-1 of 1-MCP is the most proper for promoting the extension of shelf life of 'Apple' banana, keeping its quality based on total soluble sugar, total and soluble pectins, firmness analysis and external appearance in the end of storage.
postharvest; Musa sp.; 1-methylcyclopropene; quality; ripening
