Abstract: To address the industrial challenge of rapid postharvest softening in Packham’s Triumph pear fruits, this study established an integrated approach combining modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and ethylene regulation and investigated its effect on the quality, cell wall polysaccharides and related metabolic enzyme activities in Packham’s Triumph pear fruits. MAP (perforated packaging, 30 μm polyethylene (PE) packaging, and micro-perforated packaging) combined with the ethylene inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and an ethylene absorbent was applied. Perforated packaging was used as the control. The fruits were stored at (0 ± 0.5) ℃ and evaluated for changes in quality, texture, cell wall polysaccharide content, and cell wall-degrading enzyme activities. The results showed that compared with the control group, 1-MCP treatment delayed skin yellowing, reduced mass loss and decay incidence, slowed down the decrease in firmness, and decreased the rate of cellulose degradation. Moreover, the combination of MAP with 1-MCP and the ethylene absorbent further delayed skin yellowing and core browning, reduced mass loss and decay incidence, and slowed down the decrease in firmness and fruit softening. Among the treatments, 30 μm PE packaging combined with 1-MCP and the ethylene absorbent effectively regulated the gas composition inside the package, maintaining a low O2 and high CO2 environment. This treatment also better preserved the nutritional quality and textural properties of the fruits, inhibited the activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes, and reduced the breakdown of cell wall polysaccharides, thereby delaying fruit softening. The combination of 30 μm PE packaging with 1-MCP and the ethylene absorbent helps maintain high quality and firmness of Packham’s Triumph pear fruits, extending their supply period.

Key words: Packham’s Triumph pears; modified atmosphere packaging; ethylene regulation; quality; fruit softening