When it comes to ethephon, the first thing that comes to mind is that it is a commonly used plant growth regulator that accelerates fruit ripening, shedding, and aging. In fact, this is only one of its effects. It has many other effects. Today, let's talk about its specific uses.
1. Promote fruit ripening
Experiments have shown that fruits produce ethylene during the natural ripening process. Ethylene can regulate a series of activities such as enzymes, nucleic acids, and respiratory metabolism in fruits, and promote fruit ripening. When the ethephon solution penetrates into the plant body, it will release ethylene at different rates depending on the pH value of the cells, accelerating the ripening of the fruit.
(1) Seed soaking method. Pick the green and ripe fruits in the color change period and soak them in 1500PPM ethephon for about 1 minute. Take them out, drain them, and put them in bamboo baskets, hotbeds or greenhouses. Control the temperature at 22-25℃. After 2-3 days, most of the fruits will turn red.
(2) Fruit coating method. After tomatoes enter the color change period, half a month before harvest, use cotton balls, brushes, etc. to dip 2000-3000PPM ethephon solution to apply to the fruits, or use gauze, gauze gloves, etc. to wipe the fruits. This can make the fruits mature 6-8 days earlier, increase the yield of early red fruits, and have better red maturity and quality.
When applying the fruits, only the sepals or most of the fruit surface need to be applied, because after the ethephon treatment, it can circulate in the fruit. Even if some parts are not applied, the whole fruit will still mature. This treatment can improve work efficiency and save labor.
(3) Fruit spraying method. In order to put spring tomatoes on the market earlier and improve work efficiency, during the color change period of the first and second ears of fruits, 800-1000PPM ethephon solution is directly sprayed on the fruits. It can promote red change, mature 5-7 days earlier, and increase early yield. Note that when spraying the fruits, try to avoid spraying the solution on the stems and leaves.
(4) Plant spraying method. The spraying method is more suitable for processing tomatoes that are harvested at one time. It is labor-saving and simple to use, but the spraying time and concentration must be strictly controlled. Generally, in the late growth period, when most of the fruits have turned red and there are still some green fruits, in order to accelerate the ripening of these fruits, 1000PPM ethephon solution can be used to spray the whole plant, so that the tomato slices turn yellow quickly, the green fruits mature quickly, and the proportion of red ripe fruits is significantly increased when harvested.
If ethephon is sprayed on the plant before the color changes, it can be red and ripe 5 to 6 days earlier, but the concentration should be lower, preferably 500 to 1000 mg/L, otherwise it is easy to cause yellow leaves and fallen leaves.
When the pepper peel changes color, soak the fruit with 1000 to 4000 mg/L of ethephon to accelerate fruit ripening and color change. 1000 mg/L of ethephon can also be used to spray ripening in the field, but it is easy to cause leaf fall.
For watermelon, spraying 300-500 mg/L of ethephon before the fruit has fully grown but not ripe can make the fruit mature 5-7 days earlier. Since watermelon fruit is large, only the fruit is sprayed when spraying, which generally does not cause pesticide damage.
2. Promote female flower differentiation
Melon vegetable crops are monoecious and dioecious. In the process of male and female flower differentiation, in addition to the main factor of variety gene expression, different hormone levels will affect gender differentiation. Ethephon treatment of melon vegetables when flower buds are not differentiated can significantly increase the number of female flowers. Generally, 150 mg/L of ethephon is sprayed on the leaves 1-3 times when cucumber has 1-5 leaves, pumpkin has 1-4 leaves, and melon has 2 leaves. Spraying 50-250 mg/L of ethephon 1-3 times when cucumber has 1-3 leaves can kill male flowers and is mostly used for field seed production of cucumber.
Experiments have shown that when the fruit of varieties such as Giant Bee begins to mature, spraying or dipping the bunches with 250-300 mg/kg of ethephon can ripen 6-8 days earlier, and it can be eaten on the fifth day after spraying.
When using ethephon to ripen grapes, pay attention to the following:
① The concentration should be appropriate. If the concentration is too low, the effect is not obvious. When the concentration is higher than 500 mg/kg, it is easy to cause fruit drop.
② The treatment time is the most suitable period when the fruit begins to mature, that is, when the colored varieties begin to color and the white varieties turn slightly yellow, the treatment effect is best.
③ The most suitable concentration for ripening different varieties is different. In production, experiments should be conducted to find the best treatment concentration and method.
④Since ethephon has the effect of promoting the formation of abscission layer, the use of ethephon alone for heating often causes fruit to fall off, making the grape bunches intolerant to storage and transportation. In order to reduce this side effect, 10-20 mg/kg of acetic acid or 10-15 mg/kg of 2,4,5-T can be added when using ethephon, which has a good effect of preventing fruit from falling off.
3. Promote plant dwarfing
Spraying 240-960 mg/L of ethephon on cabbage, celery, carrots, radishes, eggplants, tomatoes, pumpkins, etc. when they have 1-4 leaves will slow down the growth of the plants and then stop growing. Break plant dormancy.
Ethephon has the effect of breaking dormancy and promoting germination. For example, soaking potato seeds with 50-200 mg/L of ethephon can increase the number of buds, and treating ginger can promote its germination and increase branches.
Brassinolide + DA-6 + ethephon is referred to as Ethyl and Ethyl. Its preparation is 30% and 40% aqueous solution, diluted 1500 times for use, 20-30ml per mu, and used when the corn has 6-8 leaves. It is a plant growth regulator for controlling corn growth that has become popular in recent years, and it is also the best plant growth regulator for controlling corn plant height.
Currently, most ethephons on the market are aqueous preparations, which must be diluted strictly according to requirements.
