PEACH AND NECTARINE FRUIT SOFTENING FOLLOWING AMINOETHOXYVINYLGLYCINESPRAYS AND DIPS

AVG sprays applied to 'Redhaven' peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) tree s 53, 72, 80, 87, or 94 days after full bloom (AFB) slightly delayed t he first harvest date. Applications at 53 or 94 days AFB slightly dela yed cumulative second and third harvests. The fourth (final) harvest w as not delayed by any AVG spray. Firm commercial-harvest peach and nec tarine fruit submerged for 60 s in AVG solutions softened more slowly than the controls when kept at room temperature (approximate to 24 deg rees C) for 3 to 12 days. AVG-treated fruit dipped in ethephon after 4 days showed an increased rate of softening compared to fruits treated only with AVG. Fruit submerged in AVG solutions and stored at 1.5 or 4.5 degrees C for 12 to 18 days did not differ in firmness from the co ntrols upon removal from cold storage but sometimes softened more slow ly after storage. Ethylene evolution from AVG-dipped fruit was not mea sureable even after it was kept at room temperature for 12 days. Chemi cals used: Aminoethoxyvinylglycine hydrochloride (AVG); 2-chloroethylp hosphonic acid (ethephon).