Changes in Hormone Content of Pear Receptacles from Anthesis to Shortly after Fertilization as Affected by Pollination or GA3 Treatment1

Concentration of abscisic acid (ABA), abscisic acid-glucose ester (ABA-GE), indoleacetic acid (IAA), zeatin (Z), zeatin riboside (ZR) and gibberellic acid (GA) were measured in ‘Winter Nebs’ pear ( Pyrus communis L.) receptacles from anthesis to 12 days thereafter. Concentration of GA or IAA may signal subsequent growth rate for GA3-treated and pollinated receptacles. No correlations with growth were evident for Z or ZR. ABA-GE began massive accumulation prior to the senescence and abscission of control receptacles.