EVIDENCE FOR REDUCTION OF ABSCISSION IN 'MCINTOSH' APPLE FRUITS AND FOR ENHANCING THE RIPENING AND COLOR UNIFORMITY BY LYSOPHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE

Abstract

We have demonstrated that postharvest treatment of McIntosh apple fruits with Lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) delays the loss of firmness. In the present study, McIntosh apples were preharvest treated by hand spray to the run off point. Fruits were sprayed on August 28, 1991 and harvested two weeks later. One half of the tree was sprayed with LPE (100 ppm) and the other half was the control. Three trees were used in this study. Periodical samples for starch test, internal CO2 and ethylene, total soluble solids and evolved CO2 and ethylene were taken to monitor the progress of ripening. At harvest, on average, LPE treated apples abscised 26% while the control trees abscised 55%. LPE treated apples colored earlier and had more uniform and intense color than the control. In a related study, we have found the LPE can delay senescence of tomato leaf and fruit tissues. The delay of the abscission of apples by LPE, found in the present study, might be due to the effect of LPE on delaying senescence of cells in abscission zone of apple fruit pedicle. These results suggest that LPE has the potential to substitute for the use of NAA on apples before harvest and at the same time LPE can improve color uniformity and density of McIntosh apples.