The Effect of Application of Ethephon to Processing Tomato Plants on the Chemical Composition of Fruits

Maria Gaweda,Renata Jedrzejczak,Elzbieta Jedrszczyk,Krystyna Szymczyk,Barbara Skowera

doi:10.15835/nbha44210453

Abstract

Ethephon is used to accelerate fruit ripening on plantations with well-developed plants which have formed a large quantity of fruits. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of ethephon on the chemical composition of the fruits of seven cultivars of processing tomato (‘Rumba’, ‘Hubal’, ‘Sokal’ F1, ‘Mieszko’ F1, ‘Polset’ F1, ‘Hysioux’ F1 and ‘AF1120’ F1), applied to the plants when most of the fruits had reached the mature-green stage. The study was conducted during three consecutiveyears, characterized by different weather conditions. Meteorological elements, i.e. air temperature and precipitation totals, were monitored in the experimental station in Mydlniki, near Krakow, Poland. Ethephon was found to have a beneficial effect on the content of extract and soluble sugars of the harvested tomatoes and on their acidity. Dry matter and lycopene levels were not dependent on the use of this compound, while the ascorbic acid content was reduced by the procedure. The chemicalcomposition of the tomato fruits differed significantly in consecutive years of the study, which confirmed the weather impact on fruit quality and on the varied responses of different cultivars to use of ethephon. The tested cultivars were also compared in terms of their suitability for processing. The ‘Hubal’ cultivar had the highest content of dry matter, extract, soluble sugars of all the cultivars tested. The highest level of lycopene was noted for the tomatoes of the ‘Rumba’ and ‘Sokal’ F1 cultivar, ascorbic acid of the ‘Rumba’ and the highest acidity for ‘AF 1120’ F1.

Highlights

In the cultivation of tomatoes the application of ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) during the mature-green stage accelerates fruit ripening
The content of dry matter, after spraying with the preparation, increased in the fruits of the ‘Mieszko’ F1, ‘Hubal’ and ‘Polset’ F1 cultivars in 2009, and in ‘Rumba’ and ‘Polset’ F1 in 2010, but in 2011 the treatment did not increase dry matter in the fruits; a decrease in dry matter was noted in the ‘Sokal’ F1 and ‘Mieszko’ F1 cultivars (Table 2)
In 2009 application of ethephon caused an increase in extract in the fruits of most of the cultivars examined, while in 2010 an increase was noted only in ‘Rumba’ and ‘Mieszko’ F1 fruits

Summary

Introduction

In the cultivation of tomatoes the application of ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) during the mature-green stage accelerates fruit ripening. It decomposes to ethylene, with the rate of decomposition depending on pH, temperature, concentration, and the degree of penetration of the tomato tissue (Saltveit, 2005a). Ethylene, produced autocatalytically as a result of expression of two key enzymes ACC syntase (ACS) and ACC oksydase (ACO) (Lelievre et al, 1997) in climacteric fruits, is received by receptors activating hundreds of genes, leading to chlorophyll degradation and synthesis of other pigments (carotenoids and anthocyanins), conversion of starches to sugars, and production of aromatic compounds and numerous secondary metabolites (Payasi and Sanwal, 2010). Received in revised form: 15 Nov 2016.

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion