Co-Authors:
Lavee, S., Department of Oleiculture and Viticulture, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Avidan, B., Department of Oleiculture and Viticulture, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Ben-Tal, Y., Department of Oleiculture and Viticulture, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Abstract:
The fruit-removal-force (FRF) of green mature fruit on trees of 21 olive cultivars (Olea europaea) was determined. A high positive correlation was found between fruit size and FRF, and between fruit size and the thickness of the fruit stalks. The natural FRF was not cultivar-dependent, but was determined by the mechanics of the stalk. All cultivars tested responded to ethephon. The degree of FRF reduction due to ethephon treatments was cultivar-dependent and was generally independent of fruit stalk diameter. The amount of yield per tree had no direct effect on the FRF of the fruits except via fruit size. © 1982.