Estudios de campo con ácido fosfonico 2-cloroetilo (Ethephon) en cafetos.

Abstract

In this paper the compound 2 chloroethlyphosphonic acid (Ethephon) is shown to have dramatic effects on the uniformity of coffee fruit ripening and the increase in size of the coffee fruit. The cultivar Coffea arabica,L. variety Bourbon was used; the ethephon caused excesive fruit and-leaf abscission in the cultivar Coffea robusta L.  in concentrations as low as 100 parts per million. Highest uniformity of fruit ripening (85 - 95%) was achieved with 500 parts per million ethephon in the sun, and 750 parts per million in partial shade. Defoliation and fruit drop were within acceptable limits. An increase in fruit size was noted only when ethephon was applied during phase II of fruit growth, while highest uniformity of ripening was achieved when ethephon was applied early in Phase III of the fruit growth curve. By giving coffee growers a "single harvest" capability and by increasing berry size, ethephon shows great potential in the culture of coffee.