Ethylene Treatment Promotes Early Ripening Capacity in Mature `Comice' Pears

Abstract

`Comice' pears (Pyrus communis) harvested early in the maturity range needed 25-31 days of storage at 0 °C to develop the capacity to ripen to an average firmness of 5 lbf within 5 days after being moved to 20 °C. After 24 h exposure to 100 ppm ethylene at 20 °C applied immediately after harvest, 17-27 days additional chilling were needed to develop ripening capacity, while ethylene exposure for 48 hours required an additional 7-17 days chilling. After 72 h ethylene exposure, ripeness was achieved within 5 days following 3 days cold storage, the minimum duration tested. Similar results were obtained when the sequence of ethylene treatment followed by cold storage was reversed. This technique may be applied to reduce the amount of time that `Comice' pears must be stored after harvest before marketing fruit with the capacity to ripen.