Abstract:In order to understand the mechanism of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) delaying softening of harvested Averrhoa carambola fruits, the effect of 0.6 μL L-1 1-MCP on softening and cell wall metabolism of harvested A. carambola ‘Xiangmi’ fruits during storage at (15±1)℃ and 90% relative humidity were studied. The results showed that, compared with the control fruits, 1-MCP treatment could keep high fruit firmness, obviously inhibit activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes, such as pectinesterase (PE), polygalacturonase (PG) and cellulase, retard the decrease of contents of protopectin, cellulose and hemicellulose, and meanwhile delay the increase of water soluble pectin content. Therefore, it could be concluded that 0.6 μL L-1 1-MCP treatment could effectively control fruit softening process of harvested A. carambola ‘Xiangmi’ fruits, and prolong fruit storage life.