Effect of chlormequat (CCC) on the accumulation of ethephon in tomatoes and on ethephon-stimulated ripening

Abstract

In greenhouse experiment, tomato seedlings were treated with CCC (250 mg·l-1) twice before transplanting. When about 10% of fruits were showing signs of ripening (pink fruits), ethephon solution (960 mg·l-1) was applied either to leaves only or to fruits only, in order to make ripening more uniform. CCC treatment delayed the process of fruit ripening and lowered the ethephon accumulation in ripe fruits as compared to the control (CCC untreated plants). The results were similar when ethephon was applied to leaves only or to fruits only.