PACLOBUTRAZOL EFFECT ON GROWTH AND CROPPING OF PECAN TREES

Paclobutrazol (PBZ) applied to intensively grown young or mature pecan trees as a soil drench was effective in restricting shoot growth. 2–4 g PBZ per tree (equivalent to 6–12 mg a.i./cm² trunk cross-sectional area or 200–400 g a.i./ha) applied under the canopy in spring or autumn retarded the upright growth of the vigorous cvs Delmas and Western Schley for 2–3 years, and had a still more pronounced effect on cvs Wichita and Mohawk.
Older trees or those cut back to scaffold limbs required a larger dose of PBZ. In most cases subsequent yield was higher on treated trees, causing some limb fractures on the weaker ones.
Unless fruit load was extremely high, nut size was increased.

VI International Symposium on Growth Regulators in Fruit Production

D. Gaash, I. David

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1989.239.47