Effect of vapour pressure deficit and temperature at spraying time on the ripening response of tomatoes to ethephon

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to test the effect of vapour pressure deficit and temperature at time of spraying on the ethephon-accelerated ripening response in tomatoes. Neither factor influenced ripening rate or the rate of leaf senescence. The results of these experiments suggest that the response to ethephon is not affected by the rate at which the solution dries on the leaf or on temperature per se, at application rates that are normally used on tomatoes.