Qualitative changes in pepino fruits following preharvest applications of ethephon

Ethephon sprayed directly onto pepino fruits (Solanum muricatum Ait., Chile an clone CH8) at 1920 mg1(-1) advanced colour changes and therefore earline ss of the crop. Colour changes evaluated with a HunterLab colorimeter occur red more quickly in ethephon-treated fruits in which a*/b* ratio changed so on after treatment and reached the highest values in treated fruits. Among four visually classified maturity groups, differences in some qualitative p arameters (a*, a*/b*, soluble solids, taste and carbohydrate contents) were found, but not between control and treated fruits. There was no significan t loss of flavour or other measured quality parameters in earlier-harvested ethephon-treated fruit. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .