The mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a climacteric fruit and manifests high postharvest losses due to its high perishable nature and requires special postharvest treatments to extend its shelf life. The study was undertaken to determine the effect of 1- methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) concentration, packaging material, storage temperature and time on the postharvest quality attributes of two mango cultivars namely Broken and Dausha grown in Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria. The fruits were harvested at green-mature stage and were treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1- MCP) (0, 1000, 3000 and 5000 ppb) in closed air tight plastic containers for 24 h. The fruit samples were divided into two, one part was packaged in paperboard and another part unpackaged. The samples were stored for 90 d at 11, 13, 15 and 29 oC (ambient) respectively. Treatments were laid out in factorial arrangement in randomized complete design (RCD) with three replications. The results showed that decay/chilling injury, colour change, firmness, total carotenoids (TC), vitamin C, pH, titratable acidity (TTA), total soluble solids (TSS) and TSS/TTA ratio were significantly (p˂0.05) affected by 1-MCP treatment, paperboard packaging, storage temperature and cultivar throughout the storage period. The 1-MCP treated and packaged fruits showed better performance, retaining quality in all physiological ripening parameters as well as reduced senescence up to 90 d at the lowest storage temperature of 11 oC and highest 1-MCP concentration of 5000 ppb. The untreated and unpackaged fruits on the other hand stored only for 15 d at all the temperatures studied. In terms of variety performance, Dausha mangoes recorded low fruit decay and maintained remarkable quality up to the end of 90 d in packaged paperboard at 11 oC while Broken stored for 75 d under the same conditions. The research findings show great potential of reducing postharvest loss of Dausha and Broken mango cultivars in Benue State thereby boosting the economy of mango farmers in the State.

Keywords : 1-methylcyclopropene, Postharvest losses, Mango fruit, Paperboard Packaging, Storage temperature.