Summer application of succinic acid-2,2,dimethylhydrazide (SADH) followed by an (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon) application 1 month before normal harvest to ‘Starkrimson Delicious’ trees resulted in highly-colored, firm fruits with storage quality for 28 weeks if harvested 20 days after ethephon application. Ethephon application to ‘Golden Delicious’ trees 1 month before normal harvest resulted in soft, over-ripe fruits when harvested 10, 20 or 30 days after treatment. Firmness of ethephon-treated ‘Golden Delicious’ fruits rapidly declined in storage.
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Larry K. Hammett (1976) studied this question.
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