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Quality and Value of Walnut Kernels as Affected by Ethephon, Delay in Harvest, or Prolonged Drying
1
Abstract
Walnuts (Juglans regia L.) with and without (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon) treatment were harvested at the earliest practical time and 3, 7, and 10 days later. With both treatments a delay in harvest resulted in kernels of lower quality and subsequent value. Furthermore, lower quality was found in earlier maturing than in later maturing walnuts when harvested from the same tree on the same day. In all comparisons kernels from ethephon-treated nuts were of higher value than controls. Walnuts left in the drier beyond the time necessary to remove excess moisture lost negligible quality and value.