Using Ethephon to Stimulate Synchronous Ripening of Saskatoon Fruit

Abstract

Ethephon was applied in two consecutive years to saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) shrubs (`Northline' and `Smoky') to determine its effects on synchronizing fruit ripening. Ripeness can be visually assessed by color (green = immature; red = mature, not ripe; purple = mature, fully ripe). Ethephon (applied when fruit were ≈ 70% red) at 250, 500, and 1000 ppm increased the percentage of ripe fruit obtained from `Northline' by 2%, 4%, and 6%, respectively. Due to pronounced seasonal yield differences for `Smoky', ethephon had no effect on the percentage of ripe fruit obtained in 1994. However, in 1995, ethephon (applied at 70% red fruit stage) at 500 and 1000 ppm increased the percentage of ripe fruit obtained from `Smoky' by 4% and 2%, respectively. Fruit quality, evaluated with respect to surface color development, flesh firmness, fruit size, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity, and the soluble solids: titratable acids ratio, was not significantly affected by ethephon treatments. This work was supported in part by AARI-FFF grant no. 940442.