ADVANCING THE TAMARILLO HARVEST BY INDUCED POSTHARVEST RIPENING

Tamarillo [Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendt., Solanaceae] dark-red-, r ed-, and yellow-type fruit were sorted into two maturity stages (green and turning); dipped in ethephon at 0, 250, 500, or 750 mg . liter(-1 ); and kept at 18 or 28C. Seven days later, fruit dipped in ethephon a t 500 or 750 mg . liter(-1) and stored at 28C showed a color score, ma turity index, and ascorbic acid content similar to those tree-ripened, thus making it possible for harvesting to be advanced 36 days. Under these conditions, weight loss was always lower than 8.5%, resulting in only slight symptoms of shriveling that did not affect commercial qua lity. Postharvest ripening reduces the risk of crop failure, increases earliness, and concentrates harvesting, Chemical name used: (2-chloro ethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon).