Performance of prohexadione-calcium on shoot growth and fruit quality of apple — Effect of spray surfactants

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Cline ◽  
C. G. Embree ◽  
J. Hebb ◽  
D. S. Nichols

Vegetative growth control of apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.) is necessary to maintain a balance between growth and cropping. Pruning is a labour-intensive management practice to achieve this and intrinsically stimulates new growth. Prohexadione-calcium (PC) is a plant bio-regulator that effectively regulat es the shoot extension growth of apples and other tree fruits. Previous research has demonstrated that its efficacy can vary based on the use of spray surfactants and adjuvants. This study investigated the efficacy of two rates of Apogee™, the commercial form of PC, used in combination with the spray surfactants Sylgard 309 and LI 700, on extension shoot growth and yield parameters. Experiments were conducted in Ontario on Empire and Nova Scotia on Royal Court™ Cortland apples. Treatments of 0, 75 or 125 mg L-1 PC, with and without either 0.5% (vol/vol.) LI 700 surfactant or 0.05% (vol/vol) Sylgard 309 surfactant were applied to Empire trees, and 75 or 125 mg L-1 PC, with or without 0.5% (vol/vol) LI 700, were applied to Royal Court™ trees. An untreated control treatment was also included for comparison purposes. A total of two sprays were applied to the Empire trees and a total of three sprays were applied to the Royal Court™ trees. PC significantly decreased the vegetative growth of Empire and Royal Court™ trees by approximately 18 to 44%, respectively, and the efficacy of PC was enhanced when combined with either Sylgard 309 or LI 700 surfactant. No additional benefit in vegetative growth control was gained when using Apogee™ at rates of 125 mg L-1 PC, relative to 75 mg L-1 PC. The rate of Apogee™ did not influence the number of fruit or yield per tree or mean fruit size of either cultivar. For Empire, LI 700 and Sylgard 309 significantly reduced the number of fruit per tree, resulting in lower yields and crop densities. In addition, higher mean fruit weights, and a greater distribution of fruit in the larger size categories were observed for LI 700. Fruit from Royal Court trees treated with the highest rate of Apogee™ had higher crop densities, poorer coloured fruit, and a higher percentage of fruit less than 60 mm in diameter. These data provide support for the use of alternative surfactants with Apogee™ other than those listed on the US and Canadian product labels. Key words: Apogee™, Empire, Cortland, Regalis, calcium 3-oxido-5-oxo-4-propionylcyclohex-3-enecarboxylate, surfactant

HortScience ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd C. Einhorn ◽  
Mateus S. Pasa ◽  
Janet Turner

Prohexadione-calcium (P-Ca) was applied to ‘Anjou’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) trees in the lower and upper Hood River Valley (HRV), Oregon, to determine its effectiveness for managing the excessive vigor of ‘Anjou’ under different growing climates. Vegetative growth and development (weekly shoot growth rate, total annual extension growth, number of initiated shoots, internodal length, and number of nodes), yield (fruit number and fruit size), and return bloom dynamics were evaluated between 2010 and 2013. P-Ca consistently reduced shoot elongation by ≈40% in all years and at both sites when doses of 250 ppm were applied in early spring (i.e., ≈5 cm of annual shoot extension) compared with untreated trees. Shorter shoots were the result of both reduced internodal growth and fewer nodes. In the cooler, upper HRV, a single P-Ca application controlled shoot elongation for the entire season, but in the warmer, lower HRV, a second flush of growth was generally observed ≈60 days after the first application. A subsequent P-Ca application (250 ppm) provided added growth control in some instances. Yield was unaffected by P-Ca the season of application; however, in one year, an increase in fruit number indirectly led to reduced fruit size; otherwise, fruit size was unaffected by P-Ca. Postharvest fruit quality was not influenced substantially by P-Ca. Return bloom, however, was consistently reduced by P-Ca. Return yield, the year after P-Ca application (recorded in 2013 only), was reduced in proportion to the decrease in return bloom relative to untreated trees. In 2012, ethephon was also evaluated, alone or in combination with P-Ca. When applied on its own either once (150 ppm, 5-cm growth), or twice [150 ppm, 5-cm growth; 300 ppm, 57 days after full bloom (DAFB)], ethephon did not affect vegetative growth or yield components but did improve return bloom and return yield relative to other treatments; however, when combined with P-Ca, ethephon did not reverse reductions in return bloom or return yield induced by P-Ca. The most effective ethephon treatment for promoting flowering and return yield (300 ppm, 57 DAFB) was not tested in combination with P-Ca. We conclude that P-Ca is an effective tool for controlling vigor of ‘Anjou’ trees, but the decrease in return bloom requires additional investigation. Further work testing combinations of ethephon and P-Ca are warranted to optimize growth and productivity of ‘Anjou’ trees.


HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 558C-558
Author(s):  
Duane W. Greene

BAS-125 10W is a new plant growth retardant that was evaluated on `McIntosh' apples to control excessive vegetative growth. When applied at concentrations between 0 and 375 ppm, it significantly reduced terminal growth. As a result, light penetration into the tree was increased and fruit at harvest had more red color, and more were graded into the US Extra Fancy category. BAS-125 increased fruit set; thus, fruit were smaller, but firmer, at harvest. Treated fruit were firmer and had less decay following 20 weeks of regular air storage. Several different thinning strategies were employed to thin BAS-125-treated `Delicious' trees. In one experiment, the best thinning treatment was a combination spray containing 10 ppm NAA plus carbaryl at petal fall followed by 8 ppm NAA when fruit size averaged 10 mm. The best treatment in another experiment was a Wilthin application at 80% bloom followed by 8 ppm NAA plus carbaryl at petal fall. Recommendations for the successful use of BAS-125 10W in the Northeast will be discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateus da Silveira Pasa ◽  
Todd Einhorn

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the fruiting and vegetative growth of 'Starkrimson' pear in response to the application of prohexadione calcium (P-Ca). P-Ca (250 mg L-1) was sprayed to scaffold limbs and to whole trees in commercial orchards. A randomized complete block design was used to minimize declivity effects. Vegetative growth (length and number of shoots, increment in limb and trunk cross-sectional area, number of nodes, and internode length), production (fruit number, yield, yield efficiency, and fruit size), and return bloom were evaluated from 2010 to 2013. P-Ca efficiently controlled shoot growth in all growing seasons, when applied early in the season, due to the reduction in internode length. Production was not negatively affected by the application of P-Ca in all years and at both sites, and fruit size and return bloom were not reduced. Fruit quality attributes were also little affected by P-Ca, except for total soluble solids content, which was lower than that of the control. This shows that P-Ca is efficient to manage tree vigor in high-density 'Starkrimson' pear orchards.


2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 515-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Smit ◽  
J.J. Meintjes ◽  
G. Jacobs ◽  
P.J.C. Stassen ◽  
K.I. Theron

2021 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Fadl Abdelhamid HASHEM ◽  
Rasha M. EL-MORSHEDY ◽  
Tarek M. YOUNIS ◽  
Mohamed A. A. ABDRABBO

<p>Temperature rise is one of the most challenging climate change impacts that increase the intensity of heat stress. In this investigated the production of celery (<em>Apium graveolens</em> var. <em>rapaceum </em>F1 hybrid)) was tested during the late season. The experiment was carried out during the two successive summer seasons of 2019 and 2020 in Giza Governorate, Egypt. The experimental design is a split-plot, the main plots consist of three low tunnel cover treatments, and three spray treatments with three replicates in sub-main plots. Results showed that the use of white net cover gave the highest vegetative growth and yield followed by the black net. Values of plant yield were 951, 765, and 660 g/plant for white, black and without cover, respectively, in the first season. The foliar application of 3 mM of potassium silicate produced the highest vegetative growth and yield compared to the control treatment. Referring to the effect of spray foliar application of potassium silicate on yield 1.5 mM (S1), 3 mM (S2), and control were 892, 795, and 689 g/plant in the first season, respectively. The best combination that delivered the highest vegetative growth and yield was a cover low tunnel with a white net combined with S2 foliar application.</p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadik & et al.

This study was conducted in experimental fields, Department of Horticulture, University of Bagdad, in Abu-Graib  during season 2011-2012 for jerusalum artichoke. This study was included the effect of dipping tubers in three concentrations of GA3(2.5,5,10g/l) (G1,G2,G3),as well as to control treatment (G0), and spraying nutrient solution Agro leaf A1 (8g/l), as well as to control treatment (A0). This study was made by using Factorial experiment (4*2) within the design RCBD with three replicates. Results could be summarized as follows: G3A0 increased field emergence (12.00 day), G2A0 increased percentage of germination (99.33%) and G2A1 increased number of branches (4.60 stem.plant-1) but the treatment G1A1gave highest rate for number of leaves, leaf area, guide of leaf area, dry weight of the vegetative parts and dry weight of 100gm tubers as(4495.10 leaf.plant-1, 2246.20 dsm2, 99.84, 922.40g, 24.00g.) respectively. The treatments gave significant differences quantity yield, so treatment G3A0 gave highest weight of the tubers as(45.55g.) but the treatment G3A1 gave highest number of the tubers as(68.00 tuber.plant-1 ) and highest yield of plant as (2890g/plant).


1993 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 179-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Dwyer ◽  
Daniel C. Dey ◽  
William B. Kurtz

Abstract Thinning oak stump sprouts to a single stem at an early age will increase diameter growth of the released stem. However, precommercial thinning represents a substantial investment which must be carried for many years before any returns are realized. We estimated the incremental gains in yield and the present net worth for five crop-tree release treatments of 5-yr-old coppice sprouts in the southeastern Missouri Ozarks and compared them to the results from unthinned control plots. The treatments involved thinning 100, 150, 200, 250, and all clumps of sprouts on the plots to a single stem. All thinning treatments increased diameter growth and yield compared to the control, but at a 5% rate of return, the control treatment produced the largest present net worth. We have concluded that based on the growth response and timber price situations within the Ozark Region, precommercial thinning of oak stump sprouts is not an economical management practice. North. J. Appl. For. 10(4):179-183.


HortScience ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1361-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane W. Greene

Prohexadione-calcium (ProCa) has emerged as one of the most important management tools that an orchardist has available to control vegetative growth and to reduce the incidence and severity of fire blight. It has also been implicated in increased fruit set on treated apple trees. This investigation was initiated to confirm the effects of ProCa on fruit set and to evaluate different thinning strategies that might be used to appropriately thin treated trees. ProCa increased fruit set when applied at petal fall at initial rates of 125 or 250 mg·L−1 in three of the four experiments described in this article. Thinners were applied before, at the time of, and after application of ProCa. In all experiments, chemical thinners did not reduce fruit set to the same crop load level on ProCa-treated trees as they did on untreated trees. It was concluded that a different and more aggressive chemical thinning strategy must be used on trees that were treated with ProCa. Fruit size was reduced on ProCa-treated trees. This reduction was usually, but not always, related to increased fruit set. ProCa increased the number of pygmy fruit on ‘Delicious’ apple trees.


HortScience ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1205-1209 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R. Schupp ◽  
T.L. Robinson ◽  
W.P. Cowgill ◽  
J.M. Compton

Three experiments were conducted on `Empire' apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) to evaluate the effects of hard water, calcium chloride (CaCl2), water conditioners, surfactants, and captan fungicide on the growth reduction and fruit cracking caused by prohexadione-calcium (PC). Two applications of 63 mg·L-1 PC provided season-long growth control in two studies. Adding a water conditioner to PC reduced shoot growth more than an application of PC in hard or soft water in one New York study. Ammonium sulfate (AMS) and Choice were equally effective water conditioners. PC provided no growth control of water sprouts and had no effect on fruit set or yield. PC applied at 250 mg·L-1 reduced fruit size. `Empire' fruit cracking and corking was severe, despite the use of only 63 mg·L-1 PC in two of the three experiments. This damage was exacerbated by the addition of a water conditioner, however AMS applied with a surfactant but without PC had little or no effect on either the severity or extent of fruit injury. In a third experiment, the addition of surfactants, CaCl2, or captan to 250 mg·L-1 PC plus a water conditioner had no effect on the severity of fruit damage. Fruit cracking caused by PC increased preharvest drop in two of three experiments, and increased postharvest rot in the Geneva, N.Y., experiment where fruit were stored prior to grading. Application of PC plus a water conditioner reduced estimated gross return per hectare for `Empire. We conclude that the fruit injury is caused by the formulated PC product itself under certain environmental conditions, and that this product should not be used on `Empire. Chemical name used: calcium 3-oxido-4-proprionyl-5-oxo-3-cyclohexine-carboxylate [prohexadione-calcium (PC)].


HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 557E-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. Owens ◽  
Eddie W. Stover

Early fruit production and control of tree size are important factors in the economic viability of high-density apple orchards. A horticultural tool permitting growers to induce terminal budset should provide greater control over the balance between vegetative growth and reproduction, increasing orchard production and profitability. With this goal, the experimental GA-biosynthesis inhibitor, BAS-125W, is being evaluated for effects on enhancing floral initiation and controlling tree size in young orchards. In nursery stock, the effect of inducing earlier terminal budset is also being studied for influence on storage carbohydrates and performance after planting. Studies in 1996 showed that 250 ppm BAS-125W induced terminal bud set on actively growing second-leaf `Macoun', `Delicious', and `Fuji' trees. Seven application dates from 17 June to 9 Sept. were compared to determine how time of treatment would effect degree and distribution of flowering the following year. Terminal budset typically occurred 2 weeks after application, with shoot growth resuming in 4 to 5 weeks. At two dates, treatment of growing tips only was compared with entire tree application to distinguish the direct effect of GA-inhibition on floral initiation from the effect of redistributing photosynthate. Treatment from 17 June to 29 July significantly reduced total annual shoot growth compared to the untreated controls, while later treatments had no significant effect on shoot length. Treatments of nursery stock with BAS-125W on 1 Sept. accelerated terminal bud set by at least 7 days compared to untreated controls of both `Fuji' and `Golden Delicious'. Effects of treatments on flowering and tree growth in 1997 will be discussed.


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