2017 ASHS Annual Conference

‘Bartlett’ and ‘Anjou’ pears are the most produced European pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars in the United States Pacific Northwest (PNW) region. A recent trend toward greater fresh market utilization of pears has increased the need for extending their storage life to prolong the packing and marketing season. The effects of preharvest application of Harvista (1-methylcyclopropene) on storability of ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Anjou’ pear fruit at commercial harvest maturity or harvest-delay (3 or 4 d for Bartlett’ and ‘Anjou’, respectively) were studied with respect to ethylene production, storage quality, and ripening capacity during controlled atmosphere (CA) and regular air (RA) storage at –1.1 °C. Results indicated that ‘Harvista’ treatment inhibited ethylene production, maintained higher fruit firmness and peel chlorophyll content, and reduced senescence disorders of ‘Bartlett’ and superficial scald of ‘Anjou’ during CA or RA storage. Compared with the control, fruit treated with Harvista had lower respiration rate, maintained higher soluble solid content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA), and ripened well at room temperature after storage. The decline of fruit firmness and peel chlorophyll content of both cultivars during on-tree maturation were slowed by Harvista treatment. The harvest delay increased fruit size dramatically, however, it reduced the efficacy of Harvista on increasing storability. Harvista treatment increased the uniformity of fruit firmness and peel color at harvest and after CA and RA storage for both cultivars. In conclusion, preharvest Harvista application extended harvest window and increased storability of European pears without significantly inhibiting fruit ripening capacity.