ISHS Acta Horticulturae 139: Fruit Set and Development, XXI IHC
EFFECTS OF EARLY SPRING TEMPERATURES ON THE SET OF FRUITS OF COX'S ORANGE PIPPIN APPLE AND YEAR-TO-YEAR VARIATION IN ITS YIELDS |
| Authors: | J.E. Jackson, P.J.C. Hamer, M.F. Wickenden |
| Abstract:
Temperatures in the pre-blossom period are negatively associated with the average yield of Cox's Orange Pippin in England. Hand-pollinated flowers of Cox set less well in seasons of high pre-blossom (February, March and April) temperatures than in cooler years. Fruit set on Cox trees was increased when they were cooled during these months either by intermittently placing them in a cold store at 5°C or by misting in the orchard whenever ambient temperatures rose above 4.5°C. Further work is needed to establish both the mechanism of this effect and its interactions with other factors influencing fruit set. | |
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