Effects of 1-MCP and storage temperature on transcription of mevalonate (MVA) enzyme genes of α-farnesene in ‘White Winter Pearmain’ apples fruit

•The link among 1-MCP and storage temperature with scald is studied.•We cloned MVA enzyme genes of α-farnesene in apple, mainly including MdHMGR1-MdHMGR8, MdMVK, MdIPI, MdFPPS, MdAFS.•1-MCP@0 °C inhibited transcription of MdMVK, MdAFS, and MdHMGR1 compared to control@0 °C. The effects of 1-methylcylopropene (1-MCP) and storage temperature on the transcription of key mevalonate pathway enzyme genes in relation to α-farnesene and the conjugated trienols of apples (cv. White Winter Pearmain) were studied. Fruit samples were treated with 0.7 M 1-MCP and stored at 0 °C along with a control fruit were stored at 0 °C (Control@0 °C) and another group stored at 5 °C (Temp@5 °C) for 113 d. Results indicated that Temp@5 °C improved the α-farnesene and CTols content, ethylene production rate, and fruit scald compared with Control@0 °C, and 1-MCP@0 °C was significantly lower than Control@0 °C during storage. Flesh firmness and soluble solid contents of fruit remained unchanged by either treatment in the later period of storage. In response to 1-MCP treatment and storage temperature, qRT-PCR analysis revealed changes in the transcript level of the α-farnesene-related genes (HMGR family genes, MdMVK, MdFPPS, and MdAFS) during storage. Thus, the results of this study indicated that 1-MCP treatment and storage temperature could facilitate fruit storage by decreasing the expression of α-farnesene-related genes.