AbstractSolutions of 2‐chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethrel) up to 480 parts/million concentration were applied as foliar sprays to gooseberries (cv. Careless). Harvesting consisted of shaking the bushes by hand and collecting the dropped fruit. With increasing CEPA level pre‐harvest fruit abscission increased and amount of fruit finally left on the bushes decreased. Splitting the application had the effect of reducing pre‐harvest abscission. Berry size and total yield were not significantly affected by any of the treatments. Taste‐panels did not detect any off‐flavours in treated fruit. At hard green fruit stage, analyses for shear value, colour, acidity and soluble solids did not show any marked treatment effects. At ripe fruit stage, softening, yellowing and decrease in acidity were significantly greater for the 480 parts/million CEPA level than for the other treatments. There were no signs of phytotoxic or carry‐over effects
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