In order to study the evolution of the quality characteristics of apples cv. Royal Gala under refrigerated air storage, 625 ppb of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) were applied to the fruits for 24 h at 0 ºC. Fruit samples were analysed after storage and after 7 days at 20 ºC (shelf-life) for titratable acidity, pulp firmness, total soluble solids content and skin colour along a 180 days storage period. The storage conditions in the first year were 0 ºC and 90-95 % RH in commercial storage rooms, while in the second year the fruits were stored at 2 ºC and 90-95 % RH, in experimental storage rooms. The results showed that in the second year the fruits had a higher maturity index at harvest as compared to the first year. In both years, after storage and after the shelf-life period, the fruits treated with 1-MCP showed the same tendency in all the analysed characteristics, with significantly higher (P < 0,05) titratable acidity and pulp firmness.After cold storage and after the shelf-life period, the 1-MCP treatment delayed yellowing, kept the luminosity levels and induced higher colour saturation during the storage period (P < 0,05). In the first year there were no differences in total soluble solids content between treated and non treated fruits, but in the second year total soluble solids content was higher after storage and after the shelf-life period (P < 0,05) in the 1- MCP treated fruits.