Abstract
Effects of trunk girdling and mulching with reflective plastic film during development on postharvest fruit softening were studied in ‘Tonewase’ Japanese persimmon for a couple of years. In addition, usefulness of packaging in an improved carton after 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment to suppress fruit softening was investigated. Softening of untreated fruit varied each year in severity and interval until softening. Trunk girding stimulated fruit color development on the tree and fruit softening after harvest every year. Packaging fruit from trunk-girdled tree in the improved carton box showed a limited inhibitory effect on fruit softening in 2004 only. 1-MCP treatment after harvest markedly inhibited fruit softening. Mulching with reflective plastic film from middle August until harvest time stimulated fruit color development on the tree in all years tested. Mulching stimulated postharvest fruit softening in 2002, but not in 2003 or 2004.
