Earlier and more uniform harvest of ‘Irati’ plums applying Ethephon

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of ethephon on the anticipation and decrease of picking number throughout the course of harvest time of ‘Irati’ plum, an assay was conducted on the Centro de Pesquisa da Região da Serra - FEPAGRO SERRA, in Veranópolis, RS, Brazil. The statistical design was entirely randomized, in a factorial design 2 x 4 x 5, in which ethephon was applied in two dates and four concentrations. Ethephon was sprayed directly on the fruits, till they dropped, with a portable pulverizer. The application of ethephon eight days before harvest beginning resulted in higher amount of fruit in the first picking compared to the application four days before harvest beginning. In both time of spraying with ethephon the amount of fruits harvested in first and second picking together was approximately 80% of the total. In the first picking, the fruit harvest was higher when they were sprayed with ethephon, without significant statistical difference among concentrations. The average fruit weight was higher in the control treatment, 120 mg/l and 240 mg/l and in the two first picking.