Response of Developing Apple Fruits to Ethylene Treatment

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Abstract
Knee, M., Hatfield, S. G. S. and Bramlage, W. B. 1987. Response of developing fruits to ethylene treatment.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 972–979. Fruits of apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Cox's Orange Pippin) were treated with various concentrations of ethylene usually for 48 h to determine their response in relation to stage of development. The main response recorded was the reduction by ethylene of the delay in onset of rapid ethylene production (DEP) in individual fruits. Early in development low concentrations of ethylene had little effect but DEP was progressively reduced by concentrations up to 107 mm3 m−3. As the fruit approached the natural onset of rapid ethylene synthesis concentrations of 102 and 103 mm3 m−3 became increasingly effective. Increasing the duration of treatments with a fixed concentration reduced DEP proportionately. Delay after harvest in applying a 48 h treatment had little effect on the relation between DEP and concentration of ethylene applied. Although resistance to diffusion of gas in fruits increased during fruit development this resistance was never large enough to affect the relation of concentration and response.