SmartFresh (1-MCP) influence on the fruit quality of the cultivar ‘Antei’ during the storage
The studies for application of SmartFresh or 1-methyl cyclopropen (1-MCP) for fruit, vegetable and flower treatment were started in 1990 and in 1996 the drug was certificated. For commercial goals 1-MCP has been used since 2004. At present, the treatment of fruit, vegetables and flowers is realized in more than forty countries of the world. The development of bitter pit is observed in many Latvian and commercial apple cultivars such as ‘Antei’, ‘Sinap Orlovsky’, ‘Iedzenu’ before and during storage. As a result, the growers have large losses. During the studies favorable results were obtained which demonstrated that in apples of ‘Antei’ treated with 1-MCP after the six-month storage in the refrigerater chamber (t-+2±1<sup>o</sup>C, RH - 85%) the loss with bitter pit was four times less than in the control cultivar. The treated apples were more tasty, sour and juicy with attractive appearance in comparison with the control cultivar. In the control cultivar the significant decrease in the mass loss of apples was observed.