Quality maintenance of Catalonian chicory (Cichorium intybus) minimally processed and 1-metylcyclopropene (1-MCP) effect on the browning of the tissues.

Preliminary research was carried out on Catalonian chicory in order to verify if ethylene is responsible for the induction of the activity of the metabolism of phenols. For this reason 1-metylcyclopropene (1- MCP) was used as an antagonist of ethylene. Successively the possibility of preserving the quality of Catalonian chicory in plastic film at 4°C for a period of seven days was evaluated. The results obtained indicate that ethylene has no effect on the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and that the conditions of preservation created by the plastic film extend the shelf-life of the chicory by up to seven days.