ISHS Acta Horticulturae 179: V International Symposium on Growth Regulators in Fruit Production
FRUIT TREE GROWTH CONTROL WITH CULTAR - WHICH METHOD OF APPLICATION? |
| Authors: | S.J. Shearing, T. Jones |
| Abstract:
International research with 'Cultar'(R), (paclobutrazol) since 1979 has demonstrated its effectiveness on pome and stone fruit in reducing vegetative growth and enhancing fruiting. Cultar is readily taken up by tree roots and by young stems. This offers the option to use either foliar sprays or soil methods of application. The merits of the alternative application techniques have been examined on peach and apple, in USA and Europe. For peaches, excellent results have been achieved with both single and sequential foliar sprays, and also with soil application where methods are matched to the water availability of the soil. Rates of 0.5 – 1kg ai ha-1 are sufficient to control growth and improve fruit size in the first season in peaches. For apples, sequential foliar spray applications of 125–500g ai ha-1 applied at green-cluster and at intervals from 2–4 weeks after petal fall onwards have proved to be an effective way to use Cultar. A foliar spray regime provides a flexible method for application allowing spray programmes to be tailored to the growth pattern of the tree. Retardation in apples can be achieved from soil applications, although the results tend to be less predictable in the first season after application, often increasing in activity during the second season. | |
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