ISHS Acta Horticulturae 463: VIII International Symposium on Plant Bioregulation in Fruit Production
BENZYLADENINE FOR TREATING TREES OF HARD TO THIN APPLE CULTIVARS |
| Authors: | T. Buban, T. Lakatos |
| Keywords: | Apple, fruit thinning, benzyladenine (BA), biennially bearing, feathering agent |
| Abstract:
Paturyl 10 WSC with a.i. benzyladenine (BA, 10 %) was applied for fruit thinning in trees of cultivars belonging to the group of Golden Delicious-like and spur-type Delicious varieties. This product has primarily been introduced and registered as a feathering agent to treat trees of young orchards, or whips in nurseries. Trees of cvs 'Golden Li 85–50' and 'Wellspur Delicious' were treated at a BA rate of 50 or 100 ppm (1995) and 40, 80 or 120 ppm (1996). Timing of treatments was based upon the diameter of fruitlets (11 to 12 mm in 1995 and 9.1 to 9.7 mm in 1996). Treatments of 40 and 50 ppm, respectively, proved to be reliable for thinning fruitlets of both cultivars. Final fruit set on spurs of cv 'Golden Li 85–50' was 30 to 32 fruits/100 inflorescent but 53 to 55 in untreated trees, similar data recorded in trees of 'Wellspur Delicious' were 33 to 46 and 58 to 59, respectively. This resulted a reduction of yield by 22 to 24 % ('Golden Li 85–50') and 18 to 28 % ('Wellspur Delicious'). The percentage of large (> 65 mm) fruits, however, in treated trees and untreated ones were 66 % vs 28 % ('Golden Li 85–50'), and 59 % vs 38 % ('Wellspur Delicious'). Return bloom and yield in treated trees provided a full equalization of the yield reduction in the year of treatment. Inconsistent result of treatments with BA of highest does will be discussed. | |
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