Sains Malaysiana 51(11)(2022): 3635-3646

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5111-10

 

Tomato Post-Harvest Fruit Ripening in Pakistan: Effect of Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in Inhibiting Ripening Gene Expression

(Pemasakan Buah Tomato Selepas Dituai di Pakistan: Kesan Metilsiklopropena (1-MCP) dalam Merencat Pengekspresan Gen Pemasakan)

 

ALEENA RAMZAN, RIDA JAVED, ALVEENA ZULFIQAR & SAMINA N SHAKEEL^*

 

Department of Biochemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

 

Diserahkan: 24 September 2021/Diterima: 31 Julai 2022

 

Abstract

Short shelf life of tomato fruits, with the unavailability of modernized handling/storage and transport practices causes ~30-40 % of yield loss which leads to great financial burden on the import of Pakistani tomatoes. There is an urgent need to adapt an easy and cost effective applicable technology for increasing the shelf life of fully ripened tomato fruits by inhibiting ethylene perception that leads to ripening and decay. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ethylene perception inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on ripening of tomatoes. Physiological and molecular parameters were recorded to analyse the inhibitory effect of 1-MCP. Green tomatoes were harvested and treated with 1-MCP for 24 h and 8 days. Results of the physiological data based on colour, weight, and firmness of the fruits showed a significant delay in the onset of ripening after 1-MCP treatment. 1-MCP is known to block ethylene receptors, therefore, we used different ethylene and ripening related genes as markers to prove that 1-MCP potentially delayed tomato fruit ripening by inhibiting the ethylene pathway that in turn downregulated the ripening signalling pathway genes. Therefore, this study provides evidence that 1-MCP can effectively be used as an alternative to reduce the post-harvest tomato yield losses in Pakistan with slight optimization on the method to suit the different varieties of local tomatoes.

 

Keywords: Delayed ripening; ethylene; 1-MCP; ripening gene

 

Abstrak

Jangka hayat buah tomato yang pendek serta ketiadaan amalan pengendalian/penyimpanan dan pengangkutan moden telah menyebabkan kehilangan ~30-40% hasil tomato yang turut mengakibatkan bebanan kewangan yang besar ke atas import tomato Pakistan. Terdapat keperluan mendesak terhadap penggunaan teknologi yang mudah dan berkesan dari segi kos untuk meningkatkan jangka hayat buah tomato masak dengan menghalang persepsi etilena yang mengawal pemasakan dan pereputan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai keberkesanan perencat persepsi etilena 1-metilsiklopropena (1-MCP) terhadap pemasakan tomato. Parameter fisiologi dan molekul direkodkan untuk menganalisis kesan perencatan 1-MCP. Tomato hijau dituai dan dirawat dengan 1-MCP selama 24 jam dan 8 hari. Hasil data fisiologi berdasarkan warna, berat dan kepejalan buah menunjukkan kelewatan yang ketara dalam permulaan pemasakan selepas rawatan 1-MCP. 1-MCP diketahui menyekat reseptor etilena, oleh itu kami menggunakan gen berkait etilena dan pemasakan sebagai penanda untuk membuktikan bahawa 1-MCP berpotensi untuk menangguhkan pemasakan buah tomato dengan merencatkan tapak jalan etilena yang seterusnya mengawal atur menurun gen untuk tapak jalan isyarat pemasakan. Oleh itu, kajian ini membuktikan bahawa 1-MCP boleh digunakan secara berkesan sebagai alternatif untuk mengurangkan kehilangan hasil tomato lepas tuai di Pakistan dengan sedikit pengoptimuman pada kaedah untuk disesuaikan dengan varieti tomato tempatan yang berbeza.

 

Kata kunci: Etilena; gen peranuman; penangguhanpemasakan; 1-MCP

 

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^*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: snq28@yahoo.com