Articles
Can fruit drop on avocado trees (Persea americana) be prevented?
Article number
1457_71
Pages
569 – 574
Language
English
Abstract
Avocado is now one of the most important crops in Europe.
Initial fruit set is high, but gradual fruit drop leads to reduced yield.
The study examines whether fruit drop in avocados can be reduced using commercial products.
For this reason, three solutions of commercial products were foliarly applied on 6-year-old ‘Fuerte’, ‘Lamb Hass’, and ‘Hass’ avocado trees, according to the 4 following treatments: Control, Gibberellin (1 g 10 L-1, application at the “cauliflower” stage), Solution a (B 13%, Zn 4%, amino acids 40%, application when 10-20% of flowers have opened), Solution b (B 1%, CaO 12%, amino acids 40%, application when 10-20% of flowers have opened). Measurements were taken three months after application.
Fruit number per inflorescence, fruit number per 4 inflorescences (on the same tree), and fruit diameter were recorded.
According to the results, in ‘Fuerte’, fruit number per inflorescence and fruit diameter were highest in the “Solution a” treatment.
Fruit diameter increased significantly in both “Solution a” and “Solution b” treatments.
In ‘Lamb Hass’, fruit number per inflorescence and per 4 inflorescences had a significant increase in the “Solution a” treatment.
Fruit diameter increased in all treatments compared to the control, with the highest value in the “Solution b” treatment.
In ‘Hass’, fruit diameter and fruit number per 4 inflorescences did not show statistical differences.
The number of fruit per inflorescence was lower in the “Solution a” treatment than in the Control.
This research is the first study of the effectiveness of commercial products for avocado fruit drop conducted in Greece.
The presented results are the initial measurements of a series of monthly measurements, which will be completed upon the harvest of the cultivars and will provide important information for producers in addressing new economic and climatic challenges.
Initial fruit set is high, but gradual fruit drop leads to reduced yield.
The study examines whether fruit drop in avocados can be reduced using commercial products.
For this reason, three solutions of commercial products were foliarly applied on 6-year-old ‘Fuerte’, ‘Lamb Hass’, and ‘Hass’ avocado trees, according to the 4 following treatments: Control, Gibberellin (1 g 10 L-1, application at the “cauliflower” stage), Solution a (B 13%, Zn 4%, amino acids 40%, application when 10-20% of flowers have opened), Solution b (B 1%, CaO 12%, amino acids 40%, application when 10-20% of flowers have opened). Measurements were taken three months after application.
Fruit number per inflorescence, fruit number per 4 inflorescences (on the same tree), and fruit diameter were recorded.
According to the results, in ‘Fuerte’, fruit number per inflorescence and fruit diameter were highest in the “Solution a” treatment.
Fruit diameter increased significantly in both “Solution a” and “Solution b” treatments.
In ‘Lamb Hass’, fruit number per inflorescence and per 4 inflorescences had a significant increase in the “Solution a” treatment.
Fruit diameter increased in all treatments compared to the control, with the highest value in the “Solution b” treatment.
In ‘Hass’, fruit diameter and fruit number per 4 inflorescences did not show statistical differences.
The number of fruit per inflorescence was lower in the “Solution a” treatment than in the Control.
This research is the first study of the effectiveness of commercial products for avocado fruit drop conducted in Greece.
The presented results are the initial measurements of a series of monthly measurements, which will be completed upon the harvest of the cultivars and will provide important information for producers in addressing new economic and climatic challenges.
Publication
Authors
T.T. Tzatzani, G. Psarras
Keywords
flowering, fruit set, yield, fruit size, fruiting
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