ISHS Acta Horticulturae 903: IX International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems
BLOSSOM THINNING OF 'REDHAVEN' AND 'BABYGOLD 5' PEACHES WITH DIFFERENT CHEMICALS |
| Authors: | T.M. Yoon, T.L. Robinson, J.L. Osborne |
| Keywords: | Prunus persica, ammonium thio-sulfate, ATS, lime sulfur, Tergitol, fruit set, crop load, fruit size |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.903.116 |
| Abstract:
The thinning response of ‘Redhaven’ and ‘Babygold 5’ peaches to rate and timing of ammonium thio-sulfate (ATS), lime sulfur plus fish oil (LS+FO) and Tergitol® sprays was studied in a field trial at Geneva, New York State, USA in 2007. With ‘Redhaven’, ATS showed increased thinning with increasing rate with the high rate of ATS (4.5%) resulting in over-thinning (11% fruit set). The lower rates of ATS 1.5% or 3% ATS resulted in intermediate fruit set but less thinning than the hand thinned controls. Tergitol® also caused increased thinning as rate increased with excessive thinning at the highest rate (3%) which had only 4% fruit set. At the lower rates of 1% or 2% Tergitol fruit set was similar to the hand thinned controls. LS+FO did not show a rate response with similar thinning at 1, 2 or 3%. Two applications of ATS, LS+FO or Tergitol reduced fruit set more than one application. Two sprays of 1% Tergitol burned most of the flowers and led to only 5% fruit set. Considering both yield and fruit size, two sprays of 1% or 2% LS+FO, 2 sprays of 3% ATS or a single spray of 2% Tergitol seem to be promising to thin ‘Redhaven’ peach blossoms. With ‘Babygold 5’, Tergitol and ATS caused greater thinning as the rate increased but the high rate of Tergitol (3%) burned almost all flowers. Two sprays of 1.5% ATS and 2% LS+FO reduced crop load more effectively than a single spray. Two sprays of 0.5% Tergitol effectively thinned blossoms but when the rate was higher (1%), the spray almost eliminated fruit set. Considering both yield and fruit size a single spray of 4.5% ATS, 1% Tergitol or 3% LS+FO at 80% bloom, look promising as blossom thinning treatments for ‘Babygold 5’. Alternatively, two sprays of 1.5% ATS, 0.5% Tergitol or 2% LS+FO at 50% and 80% bloom, were also promising. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
