Volume 63 Number 3 Article 1
Year 2009 Month 7
Title: Effects of Preharvest Applications of Ethephon and 1-MCP to 'Bing' Sweet Cherry on Fruit Removal Force and Fruit Quality
Authors: D.C. Elfving, T.D. Auvil, F. Castillo, S.R. Drake, H. Künzel, E.M. Kupferman, B. Lorenz, J.R. McFerson, A. Nathan Reed, C. Sater, T.R. Schmidt and D.B. Visser
Abstract:
Preharvest application of ethephon to ‘Bing’ sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) trees consistently reduced fruit
removal force (FRF) but also reduced fruit flesh firmness at commercial harvest.
Treatment resulted in only minor
effects on soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity.
Red color development in fruit skin and flesh was
stimulated by ethephon in some seasons.
Pedicel color showed little response to ethephon and there were no effects
of any treatment on fruit size.
Holding sampled fruit for one or two weeks in cold storage typically resulted
in fruits with higher firmness, possibly due to dehydration.
Ethephon increased gum formation (gummosis) on
treated trees in some, but not all, seasons.
Applications of 1-MCP to sweet cherry trees within 3 days of ethephon
treatment in 2003 counteracted ethephon-induced flesh firmness loss without inhibiting the reduction in FRF, but
this response could not be reproduced in the following three years, despite the inclusion of various experimental
sprayable formulations of 1-MCP at various concentrations, timings, spray volumes, types of sprayers and use of
surfactants or other additives.
Ethephon-induced changes in fruit quality may take place via pathways not regulated
by 1-MCP binding or, on the other hand, binding of 1-MCP to active sites may be transitory or insufficient
to initiate such changes.
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