ISHS Acta Horticulturae 463: VIII International Symposium on Plant Bioregulation in Fruit Production
SYNTHETIC AUXINS EVALUATION ON FRUIT SIZE AND YIELD IN 'LISBON' TYPE LEMON |
| Authors: | F. Ronca, H. Arbiza, A. Abella, M. Arias, A. Gravina |
| Keywords: | Citrus limon, fruit growth, fruit weight, growth regulators, productivity |
| Abstract:
The use of synthetic auxins to increase fruit size in citrus has been reported in the last years as an effective method to increase commercial value of the crop. In lemon, in addition, on the productive conditions of Uruguay, it can be a method to escape frost damage, allowed precocious bearing. In two different experiments, the effect of butylglycolic ester of dichlorophenoxypropionic acid (2,4-DP; 37.5 and 75 mg.l-1), and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyrydil-oxyacetic acid (3,5,6-TPA 10, 15 and 20 mg.l-1) spraying at the end of physiological drop (first date) and 14 days later (second date), on fruit growth, final fruit size and yield of 'Lisbon' type lemon were evaluated. Different responses were verified depending on the product, spraying date and concentrations used. 3,5,6-TPA applied at the first date increased fruit weight independently of concentration used; at 20 mg.l-1, fruit number was lower than control but yield was not reduced. In the second date, only the highest concentration promoted fruit weight increase. Application of 2,4-DP at 75 mg.l-1 increase final fruit weight at two spray dates, but at first, thinning effect and yield reduction was verified. Both auxins, in general, improved fruit size distribution. The effectiveness of these auxins on improving lemon production found in these experiments should be confirmed through further studies. | |
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