Importance of low ethylene levels to delay senescence of non-climacteric fruit and vegetables

Abstract

The storage life of a range of non-climacteric fruit and vegetables was assessed during storage at ambient temperature (20˚C) and low temperature (0–5˚C) and ventilation with air containing ethylene over the range <0.005–10 µL/L. The storage life of Chinese cabbage and orange was found to be linearly extended with a logarithmic reduction in ethylene concentration. Across 23 kinds of produce, there was about a 60% extension in postharvest life when stored in <0.005 µL/L compared with 0.1 µL/L, the commonly considered threshold level for ethylene action. It is suggested that the threshold level of ethylene action on non-climacteric produce is well below 0.005 µL/L and that the level of ethylene that accumulates around produce in all commercial situations is always much greater than 0.005 µL/L. Hence, any postharvest action that reduces the accumulation of ethylene around non-climacteric produce during marketing will result in an increase in postharvest life.