Effects of ethylene on fruit set and maturation of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

Abstract

Flower buds and immature berries in the highbush blueberry 'Jersey' were treated by dipping them in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) or aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) to examine the effects of ethylene on fruit set and maturation. ACC treatment to flower bud 10 days before bloom immediately increased ethylene evolution from flower bud at the stage in which no ethylene evolved in the untreated control bud. The treatment promoted flower and berry abscission indicating that ethylene concentration above the natural level induced flowers and young berries to abscise although ethylene evolution increased 5 days after anthesis. ACC treatment of immature berry also increased ethylene evolution and accelerated maturation. As a result, the harvest was advanced and picking period shortened. AOA treatment as an inhibitor of ethylene evolution did not clearly effect ethylene evolution. Our results indicate that by regulating ethylene evolution, the amount of fruiting and the time of maturation could be controlled.