As a stop-drop material, Alar* has no equal. It is applied long before 

 harvest when it is easier to get equipment through the orchard; it does not 

 require a repeat application; it does not induce fruit ripening; its effec- 

 tiveness does not depend on weather. It is extremely effective and 

 reliable. In the combined stop-drop effect and delay of fruit ripening, 

 Alar* generally extends the harvest period for Mcintosh by two weeks. 



The extended harvest season obviously allows better use of harvest 

 labor. Secondly, fruit continue to grow until picked, thus yields are 

 increased because of delayed harvest made possible by Alar--. (Alar* can 

 directly reduce fruit size, but the indirect effect of delayed ripening can 

 easily exceed the size suppression unless excessive dosages have been used.) 

 Lastly, delayed harvest makes possible a higher pack-out of red-colored 

 cultivars because fruit color is improved by cooler temperature. 



Alar's* effects on fruit quality are more difficult to assess. It 

 suppresses production of ethylene, the initiator of fruit ripening, thereby 

 delaying the onset of ripening. However, once ripening begins, it probably 

 progresses at the same rate as if Alar* had not been used. Thus, excessive 

 delay in harvest of Al ar*-t reated fruit can result in harvest of fruit with 

 little storage potential. 



There is evidence that Alar* can directly increase red color on 

 Mcintosh. However, our experience is that color enhancement is not a con- 

 sistent response to Alar* in Massachusetts. In most cases, the redder color 

 following Alar* application is the result of delayed harvest and exposure to 

 cooler weather. 



By delaying ripening, Alar* can also delay fruit softening. This gives 

 the grower more time to pick firm-textured fruit. Nevertheless, Alar*- 

 treated fruit will soften normally once softening begins, so even though it 

 has been used, late-picked fruit can be excessively soft. Futhermore, 

 Alar*-treated fruit will soften normally in storage. Thus, whether or not 

 Alar* produces firmer fruit after storage depends on the concentration used, 

 the time of harvest, and storage conditions. 



By delaying ripening. Alar* can also increase fruit quality aftei 

 storage. Very simply, the riper the fruit that are going into storage, the 

 poorer will be their quality after storage. Alar* gives the grower extra 

 time to put fruit into storage while they still are at the stage of ripeness 

 that is appropriate for long-term storage and good post-storage quality. 

 There is no direct effect of Alar* on apple quality after storage. In fact, 

 research in England showed that Alar* increased fruit susceptibility to low 

 temperature breakdown (a disorder not generally seen in the Northeast), a 

 problem that is so serious that Alar* cannot be used in England. 



IF ALAR* IS NOT USED. . . . 



Whether the decision is by choice or by edict, what are the consequen- 

 ces if a grower stops using Alar*? Without doubt, for Northeastern growers 

 the greatest impact would be the significantly shortened harvest period for 

 Mcintosh. There is no substitute for Alar* as a stop-drop material that 

 also delays ripening. Napthaleneacet ic acid (NAA) can be used for pre- 



