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Research Article

Postharvest Quality Maintenance of ‘Gampung’ Persimmon Fruit using Modified Atmosphere Packaging, 1-Methylcyclopropene, and an Ethylene Absorbent under Simulated Marketing Conditions
Mi Hee Shin1†
,
Yeji Moon2†
,
Dong Ha Kim2
,
Cheaeun Kim2
,
L. Sugandhi Hirushika Jayasooriya2
,
Yun-Hee Kim3
,
Kyeong Bok Ma4
,
Byulhana Lee4
,
Jin Gook Kim12*
1Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea
2Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea
3Department of Biology Education, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea
4Pear Research Center, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Naju 58216, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
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Abstract

The effects of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and an ethylene absorbent (EA) on the postharvest quality of ‘Gampung’ sweet persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruits were evaluated under simulated marketing conditions. Fruits were treated with MAP, MAP + EA, or 1-MCP + MAP + EA and stored either at 20°C for 15 days under shelf life conditions or at 0°C for ten days under cold storage conditions, followed by a 9-day shelf life period at 20°C. Compared with the control, all three MAP-based treatments maintained lower O2 and higher CO2 concentrations surrounding the fruit while also maintaining relative humidity at approximately 99% throughout storage. Under both storage conditions, control fruits exhibited rapid weight loss, progressive softening, and marked peel color changes, accompanied by increased expression of genes associated with ethylene biosynthesis, ethylene signaling, and cell wall modification. In contrast, the MAP-based treatments effectively suppressed the expression of these genes, thereby reducing weight loss, delaying firmness loss, and minimizing peel color changes, although the magnitude of these effects varied among the treatments. Overall, the 1-MCP + MAP + EA treatment proved to be the most effective postharvest strategy for maintaining the quality of ‘Gampung’ persimmon fruits throughout the simulated marketing period.

Keywords
cell wall modification
Diospyros kaki
ethylene biosynthesis
flesh firmness
fruit softening
peel color
shelf life
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국원예학회
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Received Date : 2026-04-27
  • Revised Date : 2026-08-19
  • Accepted Date : 2026-09-14
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20260037
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