For the market, the size is one of the major characteristics related to quality for fruits fresh consume. The Ethephon application in mandarin 'Ponkan' is accomplished for thinning to increase fruit size. Moreover, other features related to fruit quality can be influenced by the ethephon application. The aim of this work was to evaluate the chemical thinning effect on mandarin 'Ponkan' fruit quality grafted on tenyear-old 'Rangpur' lime tree in a commercial orchard. Five Ethephon concentrations were tested: 0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 mg L-1, in two fruit development stages: 30 and 40 mm of diameter. The experiment was set in 5 x 2 factorial scheme, being the factors the Ethephon concentrations and the two fruit development stages, with four randomized block replications. The chemical thinning with Ethephon application improved the quality of the 'Ponkan' mandarin fruits. The 40 mm development stage showed to be more appropriate for Ethephon application.
Citrus reticulata; phytoregulators; Ethephon
