Section 1. Introduction:
Product Name: 1 methylcyclopropene
Synonyms: 1-MCP; smartfresh; EthylBloc
Molecular Formula: C4H6
Molecular Weight: 54
Structural Formula:
Appearance: white powder
Section 2. Overview:
Boiling point is about 10 ℃, the density of 0.838g/cm3, it is a kind of cyclopropene compounds.
It is very active nature, easy to polymerize itself, but also easy to react with other organic substances, unstable in the presence of oxygen or liquid state, very easy to decompose, even explode when exceeding a certain concentration or pressure, not conducive to storage and transportation.
Section 3. Mechanism of action and characteristics:
A very effective inhibitor of ethylene production and ethylene action. It acts irreversibly on the ethylene receptor by binding preferentially to it, preventing endogenous and exogenous ethylene from binding to the ethylene receptor, thus inhibiting the post-ripening or senescence of flowers, fruits and vegetables and other horticultural crops. It can well delay the ripening and aging of well maintain the hardness and crispness of the products, maintain the color, flavor, aroma and nutrients, and can effectively maintain the disease resistance of plants, reduce the microbial-induced rot and alleviate physiological diseases, as well as reduce the evaporation of water and prevent wilting. Fruits, vegetables and flowers are treated with it, and the freshness period is greatly extended.
1 methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is a highly efficient plant growth regulator, its core role is to block the signaling of ethylene (a natural hormone that promotes fruit ripening and flower senescence) by binding with ethylene receptors in plant cells, thus delaying the aging and maturation process of plant organs. Its main uses are concentrated in the fields of agriculture and horticulture, as follows:
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Delaying fruit ripening and senescence
For ethylene-sensitive fruits (e.g. apples, pears, kiwis, bananas, etc.), 1-MCP significantly inhibits post-harvest respiration and release of ethylene from the fruits, thus delaying softening of the flesh, discolouration and loss of flavour.
For example, apples can be stored under refrigerated conditions for several months after 1 methylcyclopropene treatment and still maintain their crispness and freshness; kiwifruit can avoid premature softening and rotting, thus prolonging the time to market.
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Reduce post-harvest diseases
While delaying ripening, 1 methylcyclopropene can enhance the disease resistance of fruits and reduce pathogen infestation caused by aging (e.g. tip rot of citrus, mold contamination of strawberry).
Second, flower preservation: “youth preservative” for prolonging the ornamental period
For cut flowers such as moon season, lilies, carnations, tulips, etc., 1 methylcyclopropene can inhibit ethylene-induced wilting of petals, withering of flowers and yellowing of leaves, significantly prolonging the life of vase insertion.
For example: cut roses can be maintained in full bloom for a longer period of time after treatment, which reduces the loss during transportation and sale; the flowering period of potted flowers (such as orchids) can be prolonged 1-2 times after using 1-MCP.
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Delaying Vegetable Aging
For leafy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, celery, etc., 1-MCP can inhibit leaf yellowing and fibrillation, and maintain fresh taste; for tomato, cucumber, etc., it can delay fruit ripening, reduce pre-harvest fruiting and shelf-life softening.
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Regulate the quality of fruit
In grape growing, ., 1 methylcyclopropene can reduce fruit shedding and keep the grains firm; for persimmons and other astringent fruits, it can assist in de-astringency while delaying ripening, and improve the eating quality.
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Other special uses
- Seed storage: low concentration of 1-MCP can inhibit the premature germination of certain seeds and prolong the dormancy period and storage life of seeds.
- Seedling transportation: Reduce the accumulation of ethylene in seedlings during transportation, prevent leaf wilting and root vitality decline, and improve the survival rate of transplanting.
- The advantages of smartfresh lie in its extremely low dosage (usually used at ppm concentration), no risk of residue, and wide application to a wide range of crops, and it has become one of the key technologies to ensure the post-harvest quality of fruits, vegetables, and flowers in modern agriculture.
Section 4. Development prospects of 1 methylcyclopropene:
1 – Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), as a highly efficient inhibitor of ethylene action, is widely used in the preservation of agricultural products and other fields, and its development prospects are very broad, as follows:
- Continuous growth of market demand: With the improvement of consumers’ requirements for food safety and quality, and the increasing awareness of preservation of agricultural products, the scope of application of 1-MCP will be further expanded. In particular, the rapid development of e-commerce fresh delivery business, the demand for preservation of fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products, will stimulate 1 methylcyclopropene market growth.
- Expanding application fields: 1 methylcyclopropene is mainly used in the preservation of fruits, vegetables and flowers, and has great potential for application in the fields of medicine and chemical industry in the future. In the pharmaceutical field, it can be used as a drug stabilizer to protect drugs from light, heat, oxygen and other factors to improve drug stability and validity. In the chemical field, it can be used to synthesize resins, plastics and other polymer materials to improve material properties, but also as a chemical intermediate involved in the synthesis of other chemicals.
- Technological innovation promotes development: the enterprise will be committed to research and development of more environmentally friendly and efficient 1-MCP preparation process, reduce production costs and improve product quality. With technological progress and scale effect, the production cost of 1-MCP will be further reduced, the production efficiency will be improved, and the market competitiveness will be enhanced.
- Good prospect of international market: 1 methylcyclopropene has been recognized and approved by more and more countries, for example, Japan has approved its application in preserving freshness of broccoli and other crops, which provides a new quality management tool for global growers and exporters, and also opens up a new space of international market for relevant enterprises, which is conducive to the promotion and application of 1-MCP in the world.
