Effect of Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) Applications on Pre-Harvest Drop and Fruit Quality of 'Red Delicious, Red Chief' Apple Cultivar

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the effect of different aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) application doses on pre-harvest fruit drop in semi-dwarf rootstock grafted to ‘Red Delicious, Red Chief’ apple in Central Anatolia Region, Turkey. Different concentrations of AVG (0, 250, 500, 750mg/l) were applied to apple trees 4 weeks before the anticipated harvest to assess the effects of AVG on fruit drop and fruit quality. Cumulative drop percentage (%), fruit removal force (N), fruit weight (g), flesh firmness (N), soluble solids concentration (SSC, %), pH, titratable acidity (TA, g malic acid 100 g–1) and fruit color (L*, C*, h°) were determined. All AVG doses significantly reduced the cumulative drop percentage compared to the control treatment. The fruit removal force and fruit flesh firmness increased, and SSC decreased compared to control with the increasing AVG doses. The amount of TA increased with the increasing AVG doses while pH decreased. The fruit weight did not change, and the red color formation was delayed by the increasing of AVG doses.