EFFECTS OF ETHEPHON ON FRUIT DEVELOPMENT AND RIPENING OF THE FIG (FICUS CARICA L.) VARIETY “BURSA SIYAHI”

Fruit diameter was measured once weekly during the development of the fruit of the domestic fresh fig variety "Bursa Siyahi". The typical growth curve of the fig fruit is a double sigmoid.
The length of growth periods I, II, and III in control fruits were approximately 44, from time the fruit was 11 mm in diameter, 35 and 13 days, respectively.
The rates of fruit diameter during rapid growth (periods I and III) were approximately 0.7 and 1.2 mm/day respectively.
Ethrel (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) in a range of concentrations (100, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm) was sprayed on the leaves and fruits at intervals late in period II. Treated fruits were picked individually as they became ripe; at the same time control fruits were picked for comparison.
Ethrel application at 250–500 ppm (at the end of slow growth period II), when most of the basal figs showed color break, stimulated growth and shortened the maturity period of fruits without any adverse affect on fruit quality.
Ethrel-treated figs started to ripen 5 days earlier than untreated ones, and most of the fruits were harvested when control fruits had just started to mature.

V Temperate Zone Fruit in the Tropics and Subtropics

F.G. Çelikel, K. Kaynas, S. Özelkök, Ü. Ertan

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.441.19