scholarly journals Influence of M9 Rootstock on the Reproductive Behaviour of Apple Cultivars under Dry, Semi-arid Growing Conditions

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Hafuz Domi ◽  
Telat Spahiu ◽  
Endrit Kullaj ◽  
Fadil Thomaj
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Global Radiation ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Western Coast ◽  
Growth Dynamic ◽  
Golden Delicious ◽  
Apple Cultivars ◽  
June Drop

In the last decade, apple has been intensively cultivated in the western coast of Albania. The scope of this research was to study the influence of M9 rootstock on the reproductive behaviour of apple cultivars ‘M. Gala’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Starking’, ‘Fuji’ and ‘Pink Lady’. The trial was conducted from 2010 – 2011 in 5-year old orchards with 2,250 trees/ha grown as French axe and in full production located in Lushnja. The following indicators were measured: diameter of two main branches, number of fruits/branch, fruit growth dynamic and sugar content (%). Global radiation, temperature and humidity were recorded. The reproduction behaviour has also been measured by fruiting spurs in the general structure of the canopy as well as the number of fruits formed for each cultivar. The results have shown that in terms of fruit set, cultivars are ranked as follows: ‘M. Gala’ with the highest number of fruits, then ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Fuji’, ‘Pink Lady’ and ‘Starking’, respectively. The dynamic of fruit dropping shows that ‘Starking’, having the lowest fruit set, after the June drop is more stable while ‘M. Gala’, with the highest fruit set, besides an abundant June drop, had another drop in July.  This is due to higher competition among the fruits and failure of the rootstock to supply the adequate quantities of sap. In terms of fruit growth dynamic, it was observed that intensive growth was measured for all the cultivars during the end of July after which fruit growth slowed down. Changes between cultivars were observed in relation to the maturation period of each cultivar, with ‘M. Gala’ maturing in August, ‘Fuji’ and ‘Pink Lady’ in October and November. ‘Starking and ‘Golden Delicious’ cultivars had a more rapid maturation (20 September), accompanied with a higher sugar content which is far more related to climatic factor rather than M9 rootstock. In conclusion, it was found that the cultivars under study have different reproductive behaviour with M9 rootstock. It can also be stated that ‘Starking’ is not appropriate for this coastal region due to inadequate fruiting behaviour.

scholarly journals Development and Testing of a Model to Rapidly Predict Apple Thinner Response

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 793C-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.W. Greene* ◽  
A.N. Lakso ◽  
T.L. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Growth Rate ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Accurate Method ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Cold Weather ◽  
Accurate Predictor ◽  
Accuracy Of Prediction ◽  
June Drop ◽  
Fruit Diameter

Several thinning experiments were initiated in 2003 to test the hypothesis that monitoring fruit growth is an appropriate and accurate method to predict final fruit set early enough to apply supplemental thinners if appropriate. A total of eight thinning treatments were applied in Massachusetts and New York. On the day of thinner application 70 to 100 spurs were tagged on 4-8 trees (replications). All fruit within a spur were individually identified and fruit were measured. At 2 to 3 day intervals fruit diameter was measured at a designated point on the fruit. Growth rate of the fastest growing 20 fruit on the untreated trees was used as the criteria to determine growth rate of fruit that would persist to harvest. A fruit on a treated tree was predicted to abscise if growth rate slowed to 50% or less of the growth rate of the 20 fastest growing fruit on untreated trees. Cold weather in 2003 following thinner application slowed the response time to thinners. Thinning treatments were applied to Delicious, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, and Gala at 7-9-mm stage. BA, carbaryl, and combinations of NAA and carbaryl were used. In Massachusetts accuracy of prediction of final fruit set at 7-11 days after application ranged from 87% to 100% with and average of 95% accuracy compared to final observed drop at the end of June drop in July. In Geneva, N.Y., the temperature was so unseasonably cold following application that prediction of final set at 7 to 11 days after application was between 68% and 79% with an average of 74% accuracy. We conclude that prediction of final fruit set following growth rate of individual fruit shows promise as an accurate predictor of final fruit set early enough to apply supplemental thinners if appropriate.

scholarly journals Removal of the Most Developed Flowers Influences Fruit Set, Quality, and Yield of Apple Clusters

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Miranda ◽  
Luis G. Santesteban ◽  
José B. Royo
Keyword(s):  
Malus Domestica ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Golden Delicious ◽  
Flower Density ◽  
Apple Cultivars ◽  
Made In

The apical or king (K) flower in the apple (Malus ×domestica L. Borkh.) cluster usually develops and blooms first and also has a greater sink potential. For this reason, resources are primarily used by the K fruit, and this is also one of the reasons why most thinning practices tend to favor K fruit set. However, it is not always possible to retain the K flower and remove the lateral ones. This study was undertaken to determine if the removal of the most developed flowers in the cluster influences yield or quality compared to that obtained in a whole cluster. The treatments were made in `Golden Delicious' and `Royal Gala' apple cultivars, within a wide range of flower densities for each cultivar. The factor tested was the intensity of flower removal (FRI); the treatments consisted in removing one, two, or three flowers in each cluster. Flower density was used as a covariate in an analysis of covariance to account for differences in flower densities in response to FRI treatments. In all experiments the covariate was not significant; therefore FRI effect was not affected by flower density. `Golden Delicious' and `Royal Gala' had similar responses to flower removal, so that when at least three flowers in a cluster remained, fruit set and cluster yield were similar to whole clusters. Only when two or fewer poorly developed flowers remained after FRI treatments, yield was reduced by as much as 25%. Fruit from FRI clusters were even heavier than those from whole clusters, due to reduced competition among the fruit, so that the growth potential of fruit from the first and second lateral flowers was similar to clusters with K fruit, in clusters where the K flower had been removed.

scholarly journals 301 Bioregulators Affect Apple Yield and Quality Attributes

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 494D-494
Author(s):  
George Ouma ◽  
Frank Matta
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Quality Attributes ◽  
Apple Fruit ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fruit Length ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Apple Cultivars ◽  
High Yields

Experiments were conducted in 1995 and 1996 to investigate the effect of Accel and Carbaryl sprayed 2 weeks postbloom on apple fruit yield and quality and to relate the degree of fruit set reduction to the yield of three apple cultivars (Empire, Jon-A-Red, and Braeburn). The treatments consisted of Accel 25 ppm, Accel 50 ppm, Accel 75 ppm, Carbaryl 0.05%, Carbaryl 0.1%, Carbaryl 0.2%, and an unsprayed control. Trials conducted over the 2 years indicated that Accel and Carbaryl reduced the fruit set of three apple cultivars as shown by the lower number of fruit per limb cross-sectional area on the sprayed trees compared to the unsprayed trees. Most effective concentrations in reducing the fruit set on apples were Accel 50 ppm, Accel 75 ppm, Carbary 0.01%, and Carbaryl 0.2%, with high yields and high fruit rates. Therefore, it was concluded that these are the best concentrations for thinning of apples. Other quality attributes, such as pH, sugar content, and percent fruit red were also increased by the treatments. The treatments did not influence the number of seeds in the fruit, fruit length, fruit diameter, and fruit length: diameter ratio.

scholarly journals 509 Defoliation Affects Return Bloom, Fruit Set, and Fruit Quality of Three Apple Cultivars

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 482D-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Davis ◽  
John A. Barden ◽  
Ross E. Byers
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Yield Efficiency ◽  
Tree Defoliation ◽  
Crop Density ◽  
Golden Delicious ◽  
Apple Cultivars ◽  
Return Bloom

In 1997 and 1998, we determined the effects of defoliation on return bloom and fruit set following a light cropping year. In one study, `Braeburn' trees were hand-thinned to a crop density (CD) of 3 fruit/cm 2 trunk cross sectional area (TCSA) in late May 1997, and then either completely defoliated or half of the tree defoliated by hand on one of five dates between June and Sept. 1997. Compared to a nondefoliated control, both whole and half-tree defoliation on all dates reduced fruit count and yield efficiency (kilograms per square centimeter of TCSA) and affected fruit weight, starch, firmness, and soluble solids in 1997. In 1998, return bloom and fruit set were reduced by most 1997 defoliation treatments. Compared to other dates, defoliation on 3 July caused the greatest reduction in return bloom in both whole and half-defoliated trees. In another study, `Braeburn' trees were hand-thinned to a CD of 5 in late May 1998; complete defoliation by hand on 1, 15, or 29 July reduced return bloom and fruit set in 1999; the 1 July treatment resulted in zero return bloom. `Golden Delicious' and `York' trees were thinned to a CD of 3 in late May 1998 and were hand-defoliated on 21 July or 12 August by removing every other leaf or removing three of every four leaves over the entire tree. In 1999, return bloom and spur and lateral fruit set were reduced by all defoliation treatments. Fruit set was most reduced by the 12 Aug. treatment. Fruit set for `York' was lower than for `Golden Delicious' in all cases.

scholarly journals Analysis of S-allele Genotypes of Japanese Apple Cultivars

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 618e-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadao Komori ◽  
J. Soejima ◽  
Y. Ito ◽  
H. Bessho
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Genotype Analysis ◽  
Golden Delicious ◽  
Apple Cultivars ◽  
The Cross ◽  
S Allele ◽  
Near Future

Cross-incompatible combinations among the main cultivars in apple are rarely reported in Japan. Recently, however, most new Japanese cultivars are progenies of `Ralls Janet', `Delicious', `Golden Delicious', `Jonathan', and `Indo'. Cross incompatibility in apple, therefore, will become a serious problem in the near future. Since the analysis of the S-allele genotypes were not performed, especially in Japanese apple cultivars, the fruit set percentage were examined in several combinations of `Hatsuaki' (`Jonathan' × `Golden Delicious') and `Iwakami' (`Fuji' × `Jonathan') progenies using back crossings. As a result, we found that `Golden Delicious' and `Jonathan' had no common S-allele, while `Fuji' and `Jonathan' had one common S-allele. These facts were used as basics for the S-allele genotype analysis, and fruit set percentage and seed number per fruit were investigated on a large scale. The cross seedlings between `Delicious' and `Jonathan', `Ralls Janet' and `Jonathan', `Iwakami' and `Golden Delicious', `Golden Delicious' and `Delicious', `Hatsuaki' and `Fuji', `Hatsuaki' and `Delicious', `Hatsuaki' and `Jonathan', and `Hatsuaki' and `Golden Delicious' were analyzed. In addition, incompatibility between `Redgold' and `Kinesei' (`Golden Delicious' × `Ralls Janet'), `Senshu' (`Toukou' × `Fuji') and `Iwakami', and progenies of `Northern Spy' also were analyzed. As a result, we have found the existence of six alleles and 15 genotypes, and we have established S-allele standard cultivars and strains as follows: (Sa, Sb) = `Golden Delicious'; (Sa, Sc) (4)-354, (4)-425; (Sa, Sd) = `Toukou'; (Sa, Se) = `Redgold', `Kinsei'; (Sa, Sf) = `Narihokou', (4)-4195; (Sb, Sc) = `Hatsuaki', `Kuifua', `Sekaiichi'; (Sb, Sd) = `Tsugaru', (4)-300; (Sb, Se) = (4)-150, (4)-743; (Sb, Sf) = `Northern Spy', M.9, `Umezawa'; (Sc, Sd) = `Jonathan', `Himekami'; (Sc, Sf) = `Fuji', `Shinkou'; (Sd, Se) =; (Sd, Sf) = `Senshu', `Iwakami'; (Se, Sf) = `Ralls Janet'.

scholarly journals Development of a Fruitlet Growth Model to Predict Thinner Response on Apples

HortScience ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 584-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane W. Greene ◽  
Alan N. Lakso ◽  
Terence L. Robinson ◽  
Phillip Schwallier
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Individual Trees ◽  
Viable Method ◽  
Final Effect ◽  
June Drop ◽  
Measurement Period

Previous reports have provided evidence that measuring fruit growth rate may be a viable method to predict if a fruit will abscise or persist through the June drop period. A series of experiments were carried out over several years to develop a procedure that could be used to predict the response to a chemical thinner application within 7 to 8 days after application and before thinners exhibit their final effect. The procedure developed involves tagging 105 spurs on seven individual trees distributed appropriately in the orchard. A minimum of two measurements must be made, one 3 to 4 days after application and again 7 to 8 days after application. This model requires that fruit measurement should not start before fruit grow to a diameter of 6 mm and individual fruit within a spur should be numbered and identified. The model is based on the assumption that if fruit growth rate of a particular fruit over the measurement period is less than 50% of the growth rate of the fastest growing fruit on the tree during the same growth period, it will abscise, whereas if fruit growth rate exceeds 50% of the growth rate of the fastest growing fruit, it will persist. All data can be entered into an Excel spreadsheet and the output in the summary page gives the predicted fruit set expressed as percentage of the total number of fruit present. The strategy for crop load adjustment with chemical thinners has evolved over the years to a point where most orchardists plan and are prepared to make two or more thinner applications. The dilemma associated with this approach is to determine if additional thinner applications are necessary. Up to this point a tool designed specifically to provide this information has not been developed.

scholarly journals Endothall: A Blossom Thinner for Apples

1995 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max W. Williams ◽  
Sally A. Bound ◽  
Jack Hughes ◽  
Stuart Tustin
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Dicarboxylic Acid ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Biennial Bearing ◽  
Golden Delicious ◽  
Apple Cultivars ◽  
Aquatic Herbicide ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Low Rate

Endothall [7, oxabicyclo (2,2,1) heptane-2-3 dicarboxylic acid] is an aquatic herbicide with potential use as a blossom thinner for apples (Malus domestics Borkh.). Trials conducted in Washington, New Zealand, and Australia on several apple cultivars indicate that endothall is a safe, consistent blossom thinner. Cultivars treated were `Golden Delicious', `Delicious', `Royal Gala', and `Granny Smith'. Single and repeat applications were used in the New Zealand and Washington tests. With multiple applications of endothall, no fruit marking occurred on any of the test cultivars. In temperate fruit zones with extended apple bloom periods, multiple applications of endothall at a low rate may be beneficial for reducing fruit set and biennial bearing.

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