EFFECT OF ETHEPHON (2-CHLOROETHYL PHOSPHONIC ACID) ON VASCULAR CAMBIAL STRENGTH OF ALMOND TREE TRUNKS

Mechanized shaker harvesting of large acreages of almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) Webb.] trees leads to economical use of labor, general cost reduction, and speed of harvest. However, shaking can separate the bark (all tissues external to the vascular cambium) from the wood (all tissues internal to the vascular cambium) and exposes the vascular cambial zone to infection by the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata Ell. and Halst. leading to mallet wound canker and loss of productivity. Treatment of ethephon caused a significant increase in the cambial strength of both branches and trunks, presumably by ethylene-induced anatomical and biochemical changes in the cambial zone. An increase in the ratio of total tangential area of the groups of ray initials to fusiform initials and the thickness of ray initial cell walls was observed as a response to ethephon treatment. Spraying an ethephon solution (500 mu l.liter(-1)) to the runoff point on almond trunks caused significant increases in the cambial strength; ethephon, therefore, may be useful in reducing bark injury during shaker harvesting.