Dutch gene activity analyst NSure has developed a test to screen pears for 1-MCP - a treatment that improves storability and shelf life.
The company’s sampling kit enables suppliers to test for the chemical, which protects the fruit from the adverse effects of ethylene.
The pesticide leaves no residue after application but the FreshNSure test can demonstrate whether or not 1-MCP has been applied by monitoring the activity of a specific set of genes in the pear. This can be tested from two weeks and up to twenty weeks after the start of storage.
The test is currently available for major pear variety Abate Fetel and will soon be extended to Conference pears too. The company also recently made its FreshNSure Apple test available for a wider range of varieties, and the release of FreshNSure Kiwifruit is expected in the near future.
NSure’s pear sampling kit allows fruit to be tested simply by adding a few drops of the fruit's juice to a sampling card. Samples of 15 pears should be taken directly from stored batches and results are provided within 48 hours of the samples arriving at a laboratory.
The company collaborates with several distributors and laboratories in Europe to ensure shorter turnaround times.
