The objective of this study was to
determine whether inhibition of ethylene ac-tion by MCP reduces isocoumarin accumula-tion in carrots and RS development in lettuce.
Ethylene treatment (126 µmol·m–3
) of lettuce at 6 °C had induced russet spotting >5% to
10% of the midrib tissue by day 3 and 30% to 35% by day 9, while pretreatment with MCP
for 4 hours at 6 °C prevented development of russet spotting. The results indicate that
ethylene-induced physiological disorders and quality loss in carrots and iceberg lettuce
can be prevented by MCP treatment prior to exposure to ethylene. Chemical name used:
1-methylcyclopropene (MCP).