EFFECT OF PACLOBUTRAZOL ON GROWTH, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF AVOCADO IN A HIGH DENSITY ORCHARD

Young ‘Hass’ avocado trees on Duke 7 rootstock were planted at 800 trees per hectare, i.e. twice the density of the industry’s current standard of 400 trees per hectare, and were treated with the growth retardant paclobutrazol in order to achieve a dwarfing effect.
Initial paclobutrazol applications began approximately one year after planting.
Three methods of application were used (foliar spray, stem injection, soil drench). Applications were repeated as soon as vigorous shoot growth resumed.
Soil applications of paclobutrazol reduced vegetative growth most effectively.
Data on yield efficiency, fruit weight and fruit quality are presented for the first two years of cropping.

International Symposium on the Culture of Subtropical and Tropical Fruits and Crops

J.S. Köhne, S. Kremer-Köhne

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1990.275.22