The Effect of 1-Methylcyclopropene Application Incorporated with Packaging on the Expression of Ethylene-related Genes and Quality Maintenance of Cherry Tomato Cultivars

Longevity of 4 Cherry tomato cultivars as the perishable climacteric fruit and the expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes (SAM1</em>, ACS4</em>, ACO1 </em>and ACO4</em>) under packaging (LDPE film) and 1-MCP plus packaging (5 µL L-1</sup> for 48 h at 20 °C) treatments at 20 °C for 16 days were studied. The results of weight loss and firmness showed that there is no remarkable difference between packaging and 1-MCP plus packaging in 4 tomato cultivars, but the fluctuations of TSS and pH were more minor in 1-MC P plus packaging compared to the other treatments. Base on the physicochemical characteristics and quality maintenance, cultivars were graded from high to low durability; yellow pear, orang santa, blackberry and orange berry, respectively. The study of expression pattern of genes SAM1</em>, ACS4</em>, ACO1</em> and ACO5</em> in yellow pear and orange berry cultivars at storage showed that they were drastically expressed higher in control than packaging and 1-MCP plus packaging treatments. The expression level of ACO5</em> gene was the same in both cultivars, but the expression level of ACO1</em> and ACS4</em> genes in the yellow pear cultivar was higher than the orange berry. In contrast, the expression level of SAM1</em> gene in the yellow pear cultivar was lower than the orange berry. Totally, despite being deeply different in the genetic background of these cultivars, packaging and 1-MCP plus packaging treatment reduced the perishability, and improved the maintenance quality of cherry tomato fruit. Also, further molecular studies and evaluation of ethylene in these cultivars are suggested.