Search Results (2)

Avocado fruit drop after fruit set causes avocado orchards to suffer significant losses in the fruit yield, oil yield, and quality parameters of fruits. An insufficient crop load, as a result of excessive fruit drop, can reduce avocado orchard profitability. Hence, this study aimed to mitigate these problems using 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), and N-(2-Chloro-4-pyridyl)-N′-phenyl urea (CPPU) as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective strategy to reduce accumulative fruit drop and enhance the productivity and quality of Fuerte avocado fruits. The experiment was conducted over two consecutive seasons using a randomized complete block design with eight treatments: control, 1-MCP (200 ppm), AVG (200 ppm), CPPU (5 ppm), 1-MCP + AVG, 1-MCP + CPPU, AVG + CPPU, and 1-MCP + AVG + CPPU. These treatments were applied twice, at full bloom and at the beginning of the fruit set. Avocado trees treated with 5 ppm CPPU significantly reduced accumulative fruit drop. Additionally, treatments with 1-MCP + AVG + CPPU and CPPU at 5 ppm notably improved the yield and quality of Fuerte avocado fruits by increasing fruit weight, length, width, dry matter content, total carbohydrates, crude protein, total soluble solids (TSSs), and fruit mineral content (P, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe). In contrast, treatments with 1-MCP or/and AVG had a negative impact on fruit TSSs, acidity, and carotenoid content, while producing the highest levels of chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll. Treatments with CPPU alone or combined with 1-MCP and/or AVG significantly enhanced avocado oil content, with slight effects on peroxide, iodine, and saponification values. Based on the results, 1-MCP + AVG + CPPU treatment is recommended for avocado growers to enhance fruit growth, yield, quality, and oil production. Full article

In order to improve the resistance of apples to stresses (abiotic stresses) during hot and dry summers to enhance their productivity and marketability, Anna apple trees were treated with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), 1-methlcyclopropene (1-MCP), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), alone, or in combination, in two successive seasons. All treatments significantly increased the yield per tree, the average fruit volume, fruit diameter, and fruit weight compared to the control (growing under hot and dry summers without any treatments). All treatments significantly reduced the apple size, total soluble solid (TSS) content, anthocyanin content, carotenoid content, total sugar solids, and sugar percentage, and they led to fruit softening, loss of fruit weight, firmness, breakdown percentage, as well as a decreased polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity at one-week post-harvest (except for 20-ppm NAA) in comparison with the control. Trees treated with 320-ppm 1-MCP + 250-ppm AVG exhibited maximum yield per tree, fruit firmness, and no-reducing sugars or starch. On the other hand, the 20-ppm NAA produced the maximum TSS content, total sugars, with a reduced sugar percentage, carotenoid and anthocyanin fruit content, and (TSS)/acidity ratio. The application of 320-ppm 1-MCP + 250-ppm AVG effectively delayed the harvest for 14 days compared to the control. Our results show that the sprays of NAA and inhibitors of ethylene had a significant effect on the productivity and marketability of Anna apples under abiotic stresses. Full article