Efeito da aplicação do Ethephon na maturação do café (Coffea arabica L.)

Coffee is characterized as one of the most important cultural aspects of the Brazilian economy. The use of coffee growers is increasing and demonstrating their efficiency in harvesting and yield, with Ethephon (Ethrel 720®) being one of the most used chemicals. The present work had as objective to evaluate the effect of Ethephon application on the coffee flowers (Coffea Arabica L), on the standardization of maturation and based on the quantity of green defects in the samples of benefited green grains. The experiment was installed and conducted in the Coffee Sector of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Minas Gerais, Câmpus Bambuí. The experimental area was composed by the Cultivar Topázio, in a randomized block designed with two treatments (with Ethephon and without Ethephon) and ten replications. Each experimental portion consisted of 3 plants. 21 days after application of the product the crops were harvested and dried out in the sun, until they reached the humidity of 11%. After this period the grains were benefited and evaluated, and the green grains were counted in a sample of 100 grams. At the end of the counting the data was analyzed by the statistical program Sisvar v.5.6®. The results verify that the portion treated with the product had a lower number of green grains.