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Fruit abscission and ethylene production of four blackberry cultivars (Rubus spp.)
Author(s) -
BURDON J N,
SEXTON R
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1993.tb04079.x
Subject(s) - abscission , ripening , ethylene , cultivar , biology , rubus , horticulture , botany , catalysis , biochemistry
Summary In all cultivars the force required to harvest fruit declined during ripening. The fruit retention strength (FRS) of ripe fruit varied between cultivars with ‘Ashton Cross’ and ‘Chehalem’ being easier to remove than ‘Bedford Giant’ or ‘Oregon Thornless’. The cultivars ‘Ashton Cross’ and ‘Oregon Thornless’ showed no increase in ethylene production during fruit ripening whereas ‘Bedford Giant’ and ‘Chehalem’ had increased rates of ethylene production (EPR) in the ripe fruit. Exogenous ethylene accelerated abscission, ethylene production and pigment changes in ‘Ashton Cross’ fruit at all stages of development. 1‐amino‐cyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) supplied to fruit at all stages of development was converted to ethylene at levels in excess of those found naturally. The differences between cultivars are discussed with reference to the role of ethylene in both machine harvesting and post‐harvest storage of blackberry fruit.