Ethylene effects on apple fruit cuticular wax composition and content during cold storage

To investigate ethylene effects on fruit cuticular wax during cold storage, apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh. c.v. Starkrimson) were treated with 500 mg L−1 ethephon and 1 μL L−1 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and the composition and contents of the cuticular wax were analyzed at 20 d intervals during cold storage. The results showed that the prevailing cuticular wax components were acids, 1-alcohols and n-alkanes. Ethephon accelerated fruit senescence, positively regulated total wax quantity and its alcohol, olefin, alkane, and acid constituents during cold storage, especially 1-pentacosanol, 1-octacosanol, α-farnesane, n-octacosanoic acid, stearyl acid butyl ester, stearic acid hexyl ester and n-tetradecanal, while 1-MCP inhibited these processes. It can be concluded that ethylene altered the fruit cuticular wax contents and constituents, which may alter the subsequent postharvest qualities of the fruit and the susceptibility of the fruit to disorders during cold storage.