Indian Journal of Plant Physiology

Ethephon (2-choloroethyl phosphonic acid) is used to improve fruit colour and enhance maturity in fresh fruits. However its concentration and time of application depends upon cultivar, altitude and climate of the area. Therefore the experiment was carried out to standardize the concentration and time of application of ethephon for enhancing maturity and improving colour and quality of most commercial apple cultivar ‘Red Delicious’ under Kashmir valley conditions having true temperate climate. Minimum number of days (128) was taken to maturity by the fruits treated with 1000 ppm ethephon + 20 ppm naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) having more colour and total soluble solids content (TSS). Fruit yield, weight, length and diameter were higher in control plants. Fruit drop at maturity was highest (23.88%) with 800 ppm ethephon. Among the time of ethephon application various parameters recorded were significantly higher in fruits sprayed two weeks before harvest, except fruit firmness which was higher in the fruits sprayed four weeks before harvest. It was concluded that 1000 ppm ethephon + 20 ppm NAA applied four weeks before harvest resulted in early maturity with better colored fruits.