Responsiveness of ‘Conference’ pears to 1‐methylcyclopropene: the role of harvest date, orchard location and year

Evergreen behaviour was mainly influenced by the initial fruit maturity and especially by the ability of the fruit to produce ethylene at the moment of treatment. More mature fruit were able to overcome the inhibition by 1-MCP, and the solution to prevent evergreen behaviour therefore lies in the adequate determination of harvest maturity.