The effect of 1-(3-phenyl-propyl)cyclopropene versus 1-MCP on the quality and storage life of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit

1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is a cyclopropene compound that is widely used as an ethylene antagonist to extend the storage life of fresh fruit but has a difficulty in its use due to its chemically unstable and physically volatile properties. A cyclopropene compound with a long chain substituent instead of the 1-mehtyl in 1-MCP is expected to be non-volatile and easy to formulate for applications in open working spaces due to its higher molecular weight and lipid-like chemical structure. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of 1-(3-phenyl-propyl) cyclopropene (PPCP) versus 1-MCP in the gaseous state on the quality and storage life of tomato fruit. The application of PPCP maintained a lower ethylene production and respiration rate of the tomatoes and delayed the color change and softening of the tomatoes up to 12 d when compared to the untreated controls. Thus, 16 μL L−1 of PPCP reduced the fruit ethylene production and respiration rate by 42% and 25% of the untreated control, respectively, at 6 d after storage and showed equivalent effects on the delay in color change and softening of the tomato fruit to those of 1 μL L−1 of 1-MCP. Therefore, our results suggest that PPCP can be used as an alternative ethylene antagonist for the postharvest storage of tomatoes and other climacteric fruit.