This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of fruit coating material, `Prolong,´ on tissue firmness, ethylene evolution, ACC content, and EFE activity in `Jonathan´ and `Fuji´ apples. Fruit harvested at optimal maturity were coated with 3% Prolong solution and stored at 8℃ or room temperature.
1. Prolong treatment significantly reduced fruit weight loss of `Jonathan´ at room temperature but showed little effect at 8℃ in both `Jonathan´ and `Fuji.´ Polyethylene (PE) bagging significantly decreased weight loss of both cultivars at low and room temperatures.
2. Fruit softening was delayed by Prolong treatment only in `Fuji´ at 8℃. No effect of Prolong on fruit softening in `Jonathan´ was found at both storage temperatures. PE bagging, however, stimulated fruit softening in `Fuji´ at room temperature.
3. ACC content and ethylene evolution were greatly decreased in Prolong-treated `Jonathan´ apples at both temperatures. In Prolong-treated `Fuji´ fruits at low temperature, ACC contents, EFE activity, and ethylene evolution were increased at a higher level after 16 weeks storage compared to the control.
4. Fruits in PE bags became soft earlier than untreated fruits (unpacked fruit) because of the accumulated ethylene in the bags. However, Prolong effectively delayed fruit softening of fruits stored in PE bags.
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