Abstract
Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of pre-harvest spraying with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and ethephon on fruit maturation of 'Baigent' apple (Malus domestica) trees grown under black anti-hail nets. The treatments were: control; 125 mg L-1 AVG, sprayed 30 days before anticipated harvest time (DBAH); 120 mg L-1 ethephon 7 DBAH; 62.5 mg L-1 + 62.5 mg L-1 AVG 30 and 20 DBAH; and 62.5 mg L-1 + 62.5 mg L-1 AVG 30 and 20 DBAH + 120 mg L-1 ethephon 7 DBAH. Fruit were harvested in the commercial harvest of the control treatment (harvest 1) and 14 days later (harvest 2). Yellowing and loss of firmness were delayed by the treatments with AVG and accelerated by that with ethephon. AVG application in a single rate of 125 mg L-1 30 DBAH or in two split rates of 62.5 mg L-1 30 and 20 DBAH delays fruit maturation. The pre-harvest application of AVG in a single rate reduces the red color of the fruits, which is not affected by application in split rates, combined or not with ethephon, regardless of the date of harvest.
Highlights
Apples (Malus domestica Borkh) are the most popular fruit grown in regions of temperate climate in terms of cultivated area and volume produced (Stanger et al, 2017)
The treatments were: control, consisting of plants sprayed with water, which was applied 30 days before anticipated harvest time (DBAH); a single rate of AVG (125 mg L-1) applied 30 DBAH; ethephon (120 mg L-1) applied 7 DBAH; split rates of AVG (62.5 mg L-1 + 62.5 mg L-1) applied 30 and 20 DBAH; and split rates of AVG (62.5 mg L-1 + 62.5 mg L-1) applied 30 and 20 DBAH + ethephon (120 mg L-1) applied 7 DBAH
In the 2014/2015 harvest season, the ethylene production rate was reduced by the pre-harvest application of AVG in single or split rates, whether or not followed by the application of ethephon, but was increased with the application of only ethephon, being high in the control treatment (Table 2)
Summary
Apples (Malus domestica Borkh) are the most popular fruit grown in regions of temperate climate in terms of cultivated area and volume produced (Stanger et al, 2017). Due to the high production and the short period the fruits naturally remain at the correct maturation stage (Brackmann et al, 2015a, 2015b), the adoption of technologies to increase the harvest period is necessary, rationalizing the use of labor and allowing the fruits to be harvested at the ideal point (Scolaro et al, 2015; Soethe et al, 2019) In this context, the application of growth regulators is an alternative to anticipate or delay fruit harvest and to reduce pre- and post-harvest losses (Steffens et al, 2006; Soethe et al, 2019). The pre-harvest application of AVG, at the recommended rate of 124 mg L-1, reduces the development of the red skin color of 'Royal Gala' apples (Scolaro et al, 2015), damaging their visual aspect and depreciating the value of production
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