Summary: The objective of this study was determination the effects of preharvest ethephon application on fruits quality of sour cherry during storage period at modified atmosphere packaging. The treatments were 10, 15 and 75 percent of O2, CO2 and N2 respectively. Fruit samples were evaluated at harvest date and after 6 weeks holding in storage. Weight loss, skin colour, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titrateable acidity (TA), TSS/TA ratio, firmness of fruits were monitored. Modified atmosphere packaging increased the shelf life of fruits. Ethephon concentration influenced on increasing total soluble solid, TSS/TA ratio and L* value and decreasing titrateable acidity at harvest date, but after 6 weeks in storage decreased TSS and TA, and increased TSS/TA ratio by increasing ethephon s concentration. Fruits colour after 6 weeks of storage became darker than harvest date.

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