Response of Mature Avocado Fruits to Ethylene Treatments Before and After Harvest12

Unpicked avocado fruit showed no response to ethylene treatments given at 50 ppm for 48 hr. Picked ‘Hass’ fruit did not respond to ethylene treatments given immediately after harvest. A good response was observed to treatment given 25 or 49 hr after harvest. This may be explained by assuming the existence of an endogenous factor inhibiting ethylene action.