Vences Cuyno Valleser; Jean L Valleser
Abstract
Ethrel®, which contains ethylene, is used as a ripening treatment for fruits. However, there is no available information on its application as an artificial ripening agent for cacao pods. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of the varying ethephon concentrations (0, 1000, 2500, and 5000 ...
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Ethrel®, which contains ethylene, is used as a ripening treatment for fruits. However, there is no available information on its application as an artificial ripening agent for cacao pods. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of the varying ethephon concentrations (0, 1000, 2500, and 5000 ppm) on cacao ripening in a completely randomized design with three replications. Unripe cacao pods containing fully developed embryos were utilized in this study. Cacao pods treated with 5000 ppm ethephon ripened five days earlier than untreated samples. For 1000 to 2500 ppm ethephon treatments, days to ripening were achieved at 3 days after treatment (DAT). Furthermore, by 7 DAT, 100% of cacao pods treated with 2500 to 5000 ppm ethephon had ripened. The control treatment had the lowest percentage of ripened pods (50%) at 7 DAT. Total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) of ripened cacao pods at 7 DAT were not altered substantially in response to ethephon concentrations. The highest TSS/TA ratio (29.13) was recorded from cacao treated with 2500 ppm ethephon. In contrast, untreated cacao pods had the lowest TSS/TA ratio (23.49). Our findings suggest that ethephon can be used as a plant growth regulator (PGR) for cacao growers to accelerate the ripening of cacao pods.
Vences C Valleser; Glenn Dayondon; Andrew Melencion
Abstract
The massive establishment of new plantations supported by the basic needs of a crop are technical approaches for an increased crop productivity. Water and decreased light levels by shade (i.e. intercropping) are considered basic needs of cacao plants, especially during the early vegetative growth stage. ...
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The massive establishment of new plantations supported by the basic needs of a crop are technical approaches for an increased crop productivity. Water and decreased light levels by shade (i.e. intercropping) are considered basic needs of cacao plants, especially during the early vegetative growth stage. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influences of irrigation, intercropping, and intercrops on the performance of 39 cacao plantations at the establishment phase. The performance of each cacao plantation, after establishment, was evaluated and rated from 1 to 7 (1- poor; 3- satisfactory; 5- very good; and 7- outstanding) as a rating scale. In general, the results revealed that cacao plantations supplied with irrigation or under decreased light levels by intercrops (regardless of their nature), as well as a combination of these, made the plants perform better than those in plantations without irrigation and when plants were highly exposed to sunlight. The results suggested the importance of irrigation and decreased light levels by intercropping as prerequisites for a successful establishment of cacao plantations.
Vences C Valleser
Abstract
Phytohormones are naturally-occurring substances produced by plants which promote vegetative and reproductive development and senescence. Similar to other crops, phytohormones affect the flowering and fruit development of pineapple. This writing provides an overview on the association and effects of ...
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Phytohormones are naturally-occurring substances produced by plants which promote vegetative and reproductive development and senescence. Similar to other crops, phytohormones affect the flowering and fruit development of pineapple. This writing provides an overview on the association and effects of phytohormones in pineapple flowering and fruit development. The effects of phytohormones are integrated and discussed in three sections: 1) flower induction in pineapple, 2) flower initiation and flowering in pineapple, and 3) pineapple fruit development. Based on the findings of multiple research, phytohormones involved in pineapple inflorescence initiation and inflorescence development include auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, and abscisic acid (ABA). Auxin, gibberellin and cytokinin are known as phytohormones that improve the fruit size and quality of pineapple. These sets of information can serve as a guide to commercial pineapple growers in formulating a low-cost input of technology for pineapple production.
Ganih Indin Sappalani; Louella M. Cabahug; Vences C. Valleser
Abstract
One of the best interventions to hasten seed germination and seedling development is the exogenous application of phytohormone. This study evaluated the germination and seedling development of rubber seeds in response to gibberellic acid (GA3) and organic growth media under nursery condition. The experiment ...
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One of the best interventions to hasten seed germination and seedling development is the exogenous application of phytohormone. This study evaluated the germination and seedling development of rubber seeds in response to gibberellic acid (GA3) and organic growth media under nursery condition. The experiment was arranged in a 4x3 factorial experiment in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Growth media (including: top soil, TS; TS + rice hull, RH; TS + chicken dung, CD; TS + vermicast, VC) were considered as Factor A, and different concentrations of GA3 (0, 50, and 100 ppm) were comprised as the Factor B. Newly fallen seeds (with no defects) from existing ‘RRIM 600’ rubber tree plantation were collected and used in the experiment. Seeds were subjected to float in GA3 solutions based on corresponding treatments for 18 h prior to sowing in different organic growth media. GA3 (100 ppm) led to the earliest emergence, highest germination percentage and normal seedlings with least mortality. The TS+VC was the best growth media influencing germination. The TS+VC media regardless of the concentration of GA3 caused 100% normal seedlings. Likewise, the combination of TS+CD as growth media and 100 ppm of GA3 also produced promising percentage of normal seedlings of rubber with 97.33%. Seedling mortality was lessen using the combination of TS+VC as growth media and 100 ppm GA3. Generally, application of 100 ppm GA3 and top soil mixed with vermicast as growth media provoked better seed germination and early seedling development in rubber.
