Effect of 1-MCP on the production of volatiles and biosynthesis-related gene expression in peach fruit during cold storage

As an effective ethylene action inhibitor, 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) can delay fruit ripening and senescence. However, little is known about the effect of 1-MCP on peach fruit aroma-related volatiles and their biosynthesis-related gene expression during cold storage. Peaches (cv. Xiahui 6) were treated with 1-MCP (10 μL L−1 for 12 h) to investigate the influence of 1-MCP on aromatic volatile biosynthesis and involved genes expression during cold storage. 1-MCP treatment significantly decreased ethylene production and delayed the ripening and senescence of peach at cold storage. A lower production of esters was found in 1-MCP treated fruit, while there were higher alcohol acyltransferase (AAT) activity and PpaAAT1/2 expression in treated fruit during the early storage. The performance patterns of both aldehydes and alcohols were different between 1-MCP and control fruit accompanied by lower lipoxygenase (LOX), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) activities in accordance with the expression of PpaLOX3, PpaADH1 and PpaHPL1 in 1-MCP treated fruit compared with the control in the late storage. All in all, the role of 1-MCP on the volatiles and its related genes expression in peach fruits was discussed, and 1-MCP affected the formation of aroma volatile by functioning in the expression of pivotal enzyme genes including LOX, HPL, ADH and AAT.