ISHS Acta Horticulturae 179: V International Symposium on Growth Regulators in Fruit Production
ALLOMETRIC RELATIONSHIP IN FRUIT AND SHOOT GROWTH AS AFFECTED BY GA3 AND ETHREL TREATMENTS IN PEACH (PERSICA VULGARIS MILL.) |
| Authors: | C. Vitagliano, R. Testolin |
| Abstract:
A study on the dynamics of fruit drop and fruit and shoot growth in peach trees subjected to gibberellic acid and Ethrel treatments was made, using growth analysis techniques. The results showed that fruit drop occurs in the period in which both fruits and shoots reach high AGR values. The GA3 applied at petal fall stimulates shoot growth. The fruits react to this competition with a general reduction of growth rhythms and not with increased fruit drop. For this reason, GA proves unsuitable for chemical fruit thinning. Ethrel provokes a general reduction of growth in both fruits and shoots. Its thinning action on fruits would thus appear to be direct and not accompanied by phenomena of competition for the assimilates. Late GA3 treatments have a negative effect on flower differentiation the following year and do not contribute to improving fruit characteristics in the year of the treatment itself. | |
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