Abstract: In this study,  Hayward, kiwifruit at the appropriate harvest (maturity I, with a TSS of 6.2%) and late harvest (maturityⅡ, with a TSS of 8.8%) was used to investigate the effect of 0.5μL/L 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on postharvest electric properties of fruits at room temperature (20 ℃). Kiwifruits at maturity I revealed a remarkable increased in impedance (Z) at the frequency of 1 MHz when compared with those at maturity Ⅱ and a significant difference in Z value began appearing on storage day 7 (P ＜0.05). The same results were observed for capacitance in the parallel equivalent circuit mode (Cp) at 10 kHz. 1-MCP inhibited the decrease of Z value in kiwifruit with prolonged storage period at 0.1 kHz or 1 MHz. 1-MCP-treated kiwifruit presented a significantly higher Cp at 10 MHz than the control. However, inductance in parallel equivalent circuit mode (Lp) and impedance phase angle (θ) had insensitive response to fruit maturity and 1-MCP, and consequently was not a measure of maturity and 1 MHz treatment or not.

Key words: 1-MCP, maturity, kiwifruits, electric properties, sensitive electrical parameters