Effect of cold storage and 1-MCP treatment on ethylene perception, signalling and synthesis: Influence on the development of the evergreen behaviour in 'Conference' pears

- The effect of cold storage and 1-MCP on ethylene perception and synthesis was investigated in 'Conference' pears.
- 1-MCP promoted PcETR1 and repressed PcACS1, PcACO1 gene expression and inhibited ACO activity during cold storage.
- 1-MCP up-regulated PcETR5, better maintained transcript levels of PcCTR1 and down-regulated ACS and ACO genes during shelf-life.
- These regulations led to a complete inhibition of ripening and may explain the 'evergreen' behaviour in 'Conference' pears.