PREHARVEST PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS THAT INFLUENCE POME FRUIT MATURITY AND QUALITY

摘要

Several plant growth regulators (PGRs) are used or have been used to influence ripening and enhance fruit quality. These include naphthaleneaceticacid (NAA), 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon), succinic acid-2,2-dimethylhydrazide (daminozide), and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG). NAA was one of the first drop control compounds identified. It can advance fruit ripening and reduce storage life under certain circumstances. Daminozide was an important PGR in the apple industry for over 25 years. It retarded preharvest drop and improved fruit quality. Registration of daminozide for use on apples was withdrawn in 1989 for regulatory reasons. Ethephon is an ethylene generating compound that also retards growth. It is applied as a preharvest spray to advance ripening and improve red color. AVG is the newest PRG that is used to retard preharvest drop and affects all aspects of fruit maturation by delaying ethylene biosynthesis.