Effects of orchard sprays
The triazole fungicide penconazole (Topas, Topenco) is known to induce diffuse browning disorder in Cox apples on some farms.
Growth regulators applied to improve skin finish (Regulex) do not appear to cause adverse effects on storage quality. No growth regulators are currently available in the UK for use in the orchard to specifically improve storage quality of apples.
ReTainR is a product approved in some parts of the world but not currently in the EU. HarvistaTM is a sprayable formulation of 1-MCP that is registered for use in the USA and is currently undergoing the process of product registration in the EU. Good results of delaying harvest maturity with HarvistaTM have bene reported in the USA.