Effetti dell'applicazione di un fitoregolatore promotore della crescita (Forchlorfenuron) sulla qualità dei frutti di actinidia in conservazione in atmosfera normale e in atmosfera controllata.

Forchlorfenuron is a new plant growth regulator registered for use on kiwifruit. This product acts synergistically with natural auxins to promote plant cell division and causes an increase in berry fruit size. Effects of the synthetic cytokinin CPPU (N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea; common name forchlorfenuron) on kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cv. Hay ward fruit growth, maturity, and storage quality were examined. CPPU was applied to fruit lets 20 days after flowering in two differet orchards. The control did not have any treatment. Fruit were harvested at commercial maturity and weighed immediately. At harvest and weekly during post-harvest storage, fruit weigh loss, dry matter, total soluble solids content (SSC), firmness, titratable acidity (TA) and Vit. C content were determined. CPPU significantly increased fruit size. Also flesh firmness and solid soluble content were influenced by CPPU treatment. Untreated fruit had a significantly higher flesh firmness and a significantly higher solid soluble content and titratable acidity.