Others (Plant Growth Regulators)
Ethrel®
Ethrel is a systemic hormonal preparation, which, upon its penetration into the plant and the increase in pH, releases ethylene into the plant tissue and aids various processes in various plants.Ethrel®, containing the active substance ethephon, is a plant growth regulator. Ethrel® is used for thinning, loosening or ripening in various crops.
Distributor: Merhav Agro
Registered Crops
- Apple
- Olive
- Grape, all varieties
- Grapes, table grapes of the varieties: Cardinal and Muscat Hamburg
- Plum: Red Rosa, Metal
- Plum: Metal, Red Rosa, Santa Rosa
- Kumquat
Plant Growth Regulator
How to Apply
- Prevent spray drift to neighboring crops.
- Ethrel may only be sprayed on crops as per the instructions on the label.
- Do not spray when windy.
- The spray should be prepared close to use, and sprayed immediately after preparation. Prepare only the dose you require for immediate spraying. Letting the spray rest in the sprayer container will lead to its breakdown.
- Time of treatment for the Anna apple variety: when the fruit changes color.
- Time of treatment for Ein Kamohu, Orleans, Delicious and Jonathan apple varieties: 7-10 days prior to picking.
- Dose range refers to fruit and magnitude of growth.
- Maximum efficacy is achieved when spraying Ethrel on pruned trees that are exposed to light. Ethrel's activity decreases in dense trees.
- It is preferable to spray in the cool evening or night hours. Do not spray when temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius.
- Postponing the picking date beyond the accepted criteria may damage fruit quality, storage or shelf life. Do not spray Ethrel on apples intended for cold storage.
- When to treat Olive: 6-9 days before harvest.
- For maximum efficacy, add baking soda at the amount required to bring the spray to 7-pH (by Litmus paper test). Spray the Ethrel and baking soda solution immediately after preparation.
- It is mandatory to ensure maximum coverage with the spray of all fruit-covered parts of the tree.
- Activity decreases under heat wave conditions.
- It is recommended to spray at night, when humidity is high.
- As a result of Ethrel use, some defoliation that has not been found to be economically significant may occur.
- In irrigated olives, it is preferable to treat while the trees are 'thirsty', prior to irrigation.
- Grape - When to treat to halt growth: after first pruning, following fruit set of the clusters.
- Grape - When to treat to intensify color and harvest concentration: when approximately half the berries changed their color.
- Grape - Picking may commence as of 6 days after spraying to intensify color.
- Plum - When to treat for fruit thinning: at peak flowering or 2-3 weeks after flowering.
- Plum - When to treat to speed up ripening and harvest concentration: upon beginning of hue change.
- Plum - When to treat for color promotion: beginning of the fruit color change (levels 3-4)
- It is possible to administer 2-3 repeat sprays in time intervals of 3-4 weeks.
- To receive optimal results, it is preferable to spray at daytime temperatures over 14-15 degrees Celsius.
Mode of Action
- Ethephon is absorbed by the plant tissues, where it is broken down into naturally occurring compounds: carbon dioxide, phosphate and also ethylene, which acts as a plant hormone.