Reduction of Radial Fruit Cracking by Single Spraying of Forchlorfenuron (1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea) of Fruit Clusters in Tomato Production under Rain Shelter

Abstract

This study clarified suitable times for the single spraying of a fruit cluster with forchlorfenuron (1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea, CPPU) to reduce radial fruit cracking during tomato production under a rain shelter. We examined the relation between fruit development at the time of CPPU spraying and the occurrence of radial fruit cracking. The rate of occurrence was reduced in fruits that had been sprayed when they were 1.5-6.5 cm in diameter. The CPPU spraying time was regarded as the time when the maximum fruit diameter in the truss is 3.0-4.9 cm, with the minimum fruit diameter being about 1.5 cm. Actually, radial fruit cracking was clearly reduced by CPPU spraying at the time with a 3.0-4.9 cm maximum fruit diameter, although the reduction was somewhat unclear by spraying at the time of flowering or at the time with a maximum fruit diameter of 1.0-2.9, 5.0-6.9, or 6.0-7.9 cm. The reduction of radial fruit cracking by CPPU spraying was regarded as attributable to the increase in cell numbers near the fruit epidermis. The CPPU spraying did not significantly affect the harvested fruit number, average fruit weight, or total fruit yield. The marketable fruit yield increased along with the reduction of radial fruit cracking by CPPU spraying. The shape and quality of fruits sprayed with CPPU and untreated fruits were equivalent.

Correlation and PCA studies in CPPU applied mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. “Dusehri”

“…Fruit cracking is typically linked to the various rates at which the fruit and its peel expand. An increase in cell counts close to the fruit epidermis is associated with a decrease in fruit cracking caused by CPPU (Sano et al 2018) [24] .…”

Tomato Cultivation in a Plant Factory with Artificial Light: Effect of UV-A Irradiation During the Growing Period on Yield and Quality of Ripening Fruit

“…Matsuo et al (2012) suggested that cytokinins (CK) are involved in cell division during tomato fruit development by applying a synthetic CK, forchlorfenuron (1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea, CPPU), to unpollinated tomato ovaries to induce parthenocarpic fruit development. A single spraying of CPPU on tomato fruit clusters (fruit size: 3.0-4.9 cm diameter) reduced fruit cracking as a result of an increase in the number of cells near the epidermis (Sano et al, 2018).…”