Preliminary studies on the use of growth regulators for hastening or delaying of maturation rate of apples.

Early or late harvesting of apples to extend the period of availability and to regulate
the market supply is a regular practice with growers in order to get better prices.
However, this is not done on a scientific basis and hence in the early harvested apples
the storage and sensory quality is affected, while in the late harvested apples there
is considerable loss due to excessive preharvest drops as well as deterioration in the
storage quality. A study was carried out using growth regulators- alpha-Naphthalene
acetic acid (at 100 ppm), Gibberellic acid (at 25 ppm) and Alar (at TODD ppm) alone
as well as Alar in combination with each one of the other two in order to regulate
the maturation rate of apples. The data on maturation pattern of apples revealed
that preharvest application around 110±10 days of Alar in combination with GA
delays attainment of optimum harvest maturity of apples, while alpha-NAA alone or
in combination with Alar can hasten the maturation rate of apples. The data on sensory
evaluation of apples confirmed the hastening effect of alpha-NAA alone or in
combination with Alar.