Effects of Preharvest Application of Ethephon on ‘Early Black’ Cranberries1

Abstract Application of (2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid (ethephon) at a rate of 0.92 kg/ha stimulated preharvest anthocyanin accumulation in ‘Early Black’ cranberries. A 10-fold increase in ethylene production followed application; however, within 10 days there was little difference in ethylene production between control and treated fruit. The increase in pigment that occurred during this time persisted well beyond this period. Ethephon did not affect the rate of CO 2 production from the fruit. Whether or not anthocyanin stimulation occurred via accelerated ripening was not resolved.