The storage life of a range of non-climacteric fruit and vegetables was
assessed during storage at ambient temperature (20˚C) and low temperature
(0–5˚C) and ventilation with air containing ethylene over the range
<0.005–10 µL/L. The storage life of Chinese cabbage and
orange was found to be linearly extended with a logarithmic reduction in
ethylene concentration. Across 23 kinds of produce, there was about a
60% extension in postharvest life when stored in <0.005
µL/L compared with 0.1 µL/L, the commonly considered
threshold level for ethylene action. It is suggested that the threshold level
of ethylene action on non-climacteric produce is well below 0.005
µL/L and that the level of ethylene that accumulates around produce
in all commercial situations is always much greater than 0.005 µL/L.
Hence, any postharvest action that reduces the accumulation of ethylene around
non-climacteric produce during marketing will result in an increase in
postharvest life.
