Effect of ethylene on postharvest ripening of chillies harvested at colour break stage
The pods treated with ethylene started ripening after the 2
nd
day. However, the pods not treated with
ethylene started ripening at the beginning of day 3 (Figure 3). Observations of the colour development
and weight show that there was no significant difference among the treatments on the colour
development of the pods (Figures 4,5). Colour value of pods, treated with ethylene, control, and the
market sample are almost same (Figure 6). Therefore, exogenous ethylene treatment was not effective
in inducing red colour development of chilli fruit under the condition of this study (32 ±2 °C and 67
% RH). Similar results were found in detached and either ethylene or ethephone treated paprika and
cayenne chilli (Krajayklang et ai, 2000). Ambient temperature (30-32 °C) was used for this experiment
because higher temperature is observed in chilli grown areas (Dry Zone) in Sri Lanka. Ethylene may
not be effective at this higher temperature due to inactivation of ethylene synthesizing enzymes. This
may be a possible reason for less effectiveness of in postharvest ripening of chillies. Chilli behaves as
non-climacteric fruit, which does not show a climacteric ethylene peak. It could be another reason
for less responsiveness postharvest ethylene treatment.