Using an Ethylene Inhibitor to Increase Fruit Size, Firmness, and Storage Quality in Florida Peach Production

Abstract

Products to slow the ripening process such as aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) retard the development of ethylene in many tree fruit crops such as apples and peaches, allowing growers to delay harvest to improve fruit size, fruit quality, fruit color, or market position of fruit intended to be marketed as fresh fruit. In some peach varieties, AVG has been shown to increase the firmness and storage quality; however, the impact of AVG on fruit quality is dependent upon cultivar and environmental conditions. To assess the impact of AVG on fruit quality, AVG (ReTain® , Valent Biosciences) with gibberellic acid (ProGibb®; GA3, Valent Biosciences) was applied to two separate peach orchards in two varieties, ‘UFSun’ (non-melting flesh) and ‘TropicBeauty’ (melting flesh) and compared with an untreated control. Applications of AVG + GA3were made 2 weeks prior to anticipated harvest. Fruit quality parameters were measured at harvest including yield, firmness, size, Brix, pH, and titratable acidity (TA). Preliminary results indicated that firmness was improved with applications of AVG + GA3compared with a control; however, Brix and soluble sugars were not affected by these applications. AVG is a promising compound for growers in Florida to enhance the physiological maturity of the fruit before harvest.