ISHS Acta Horticulturae 179: V International Symposium on Growth Regulators in Fruit Production
GIBBERELLIN DELAYS HARVEST AND PROLONGS STORAGE LIFE OF PERSIMMON FRUITS |
| Authors: | R. Ben-Arie, H. Bazak, A. Blumenfeld |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.179.136 |
| Abstract:
Gibberellin (GA3), sprayed on 'Triumph' persimmon trees in the autumn, delayed fruit ripening, thus extending the harvest season by 2–3 weeks. The immediate effect of the GA3 spray was to retard color development and growth rate of the fruit. At harvest, fruit firmness was increased but there was no effect on the soluble solids content or titratable acidity. The magnitude of the effects depended on the GA3 concentration used. When the trees were sprayed shortly before the commercial harvest, the effect on color development was less noticeable than with earlier applications. Ripening, as expressed by color development, fruit softening and the onset of the climacteric rise in respiration, was increasingly inhibited within the concentration range of 10-4 to 10-3M GA3. The softening rate of GA3-treated fruit, during and following cold storage, was retarded in comparison with that of non-treated fruit. The storage life of the fruit was thus extended by approximately one month, depending on the timing and concentration of the GA3 treatment. Sprayed trees responded to the GA3 treatment both in the autumn and in the following spring. In the autumn, leaf abscission was delayed and the leaves remained green about 3 weeks longer. In the spring, bud-break was retarded relative to the GA3 concentration applied and, at 10-3M GA3, die-back of young branches was enhanced. | |
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