Methyl jasmonate and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)reduce decay and maintain postharvest quality of papaya 'Sunrise'

Exposure of papaya (Carica papaya L., cv. Sunrise)fruit to methyl jasmonate (MJ)vapors (10-5 or 10-4 M)for 16 h at 20 °C inhibited fungal decay and reduced chilling injury development and loss of firmness during storage for 14-32 days at 10 °C and 4 days shelf life at 20 °C. MJ-treated fruit also retained higher organic acids than the control fruit. Low density polyethylene film packaging prevented water loss and further loss of firmness as well as inhibiting yellowing (b* values)of papaya fruit. The modified atmosphere created (3-5 kPa O2 and 6-9 kPa CO2)inside the package did not induce any off-flavor development during storage at 10 °C. The postharvest quality of papaya was enhanced significantly by combining the MJ-treatments and MAP. Use of MJ at 10-5 M with MAP is beneficial to maintaining postharvest quality of papaya during low temperature storage and shelf-life period.