Steroids can control grape ripening [AUS]

[wineo]

Steroids can control grape ripening
Frank Smith

Australian scientists have discovered the biochemical mechanism that controls ripening in grapes – enabling them to speed up or slow the ripening process.

Chris Davies of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) found that applying brassinosteroids – plant hormones chemically similar to human steroids – to grape skins speeded the ripening of the grapes.

They applied brassinosteroids to the skin of some berries at the first sign of colouration and treated others with brassinazole, a brassinosteroid synthesis inhibitor.

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