Abstract

AUNG, Louis H; HARRIS, C Max  and  JENNER, Joel F. Chemical growth regulators on postharvest sprout development of Sechium edule Swartz. Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2004, vol.73, pp.155-164. ISSN 1851-5657.

Chayote is viviparous and has a tendency to sprout under postharvest storage conditions. The precocious sprout development shortens storage life, lessens fruit quality (texture) and diminishes its value for sale and consumption.Based on the hypothesis that gibberellins (GAs) are essential in initiating chayote sprout development, GAs and GA-antagonists on postharvest sprout development were determined by injection of the chemical regulators via a punched cavity in the fruit adjacent to the embryo.Exogenous application of gibberellin A1 and A3 of 1 mM promoted, while 1 mM tetcyclacis (a GA inhibitor) inhibited sprout development.Prohexadione of 1 mM also inhibited sprout emergence in semi-mature fruits and retarded the development of emergent sprout of mature fruits.The promotive action of gibberellin A1 and A3, and the inhibitory action of GA-antagonists support the view that GAs play an essential role in chayote sprout development.

Keywords : Chayote; gibberellins; GA-antagonists; sprouting.

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