Ethephon response favorable on fresh market tomatoes… pre-and postharvest studies show earlier production and more uniform ripening

Previous studies of both processing and fresh market tomatoes have shown the plant regulator, Ethrel—Amchem Products, Inc. brand name for plant regulators containing ethephon [(2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid]—to produce earlier and more uniform ripening when applied either to the foliage of the plant or the harvested mature green fruit. Recently, two new fresh market tomato varieties for machine harvest, Pakmor and Calmart, were released by the University of California. Both varieties have a medium small size determinate-type vine with a concentrated fruit set and large fruits. Pakmor matures seven to 10 days earlier than Calmart and has a green shoulder when the fruit is unripe, as compared with the uniform green color of the Calmart.