GROWTH-REGULATOR-INDUCED ALLEVIATION OF CHILLING INJURY IN GREEN AND RED BELL PEPPER FRUIT DURING STORAGE

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants were sprayed at full bloom with paclobutrazol (50 and 100 mg . liter(-1)), uniconazole (20 and 50 mg . liter(-1)), or mefluidide (20 and 50 mg . liter(-1)). Mature-green and red fruit were harvested 4 and g weeks after spraying, respectively. Paclohutrazol and uniconazole, but not mefluidide, affected plant growth and fruit morphology. All three growth regulators alleviated chilling injury that developed on green and red peppers after 28 days at 2C, Potassium leakage was lower from tissue disks, and weight loss less, from treated fruit than from control fruit. Ethylene and CO2 production at 20C were similar in control and paclobutrazol-treated fruit after 28 days at 2C. These results are consistent with previous findings that showed these growth regulators are able to increase tolerance to low temperatures in whole plants, Chemical names used: N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-trifluoromethyl sulfonyl amino phenyl acetamide] (mefluidide); (2RS, 3RS) 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4 dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-pentan-3-ol (paclobutrazol); (E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1 triazol-1-yl)-pentan-3-ol (uniconazole).