Insight into prevention of enzymatic browning and increase of antioxidant potential of crepe rubber with ethephon stimulation

The effect of different ethephon concentrations 1%-5% (w/v) on colour of crepe rubber and plasticity retention index (PRI) was studied. The study was conducted with the RRISL 121 clone using S/2, d3 harvesting system. The results revealed that ethephon stimulation affects strongly the antioxidant and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) inhibitory potential. Further, thiol content and PRI values were increased while giving low Lovibond colour index upto 3% ethephon concentration and the properties were found to be inferior above 3% concentration. A probable reaction mechanism is proposed for colour improvement with optimum concentration of ethephon.