Articles
ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF BUD BREAK AND FRUIT RIPENING INDUCED BY HYDROGEN CYANAMIDE (DORMEX®) IN SWEET CHERRY: A THREE-YEAR STUDY
Article number
795_71
Pages
469 – 478
Language
English
Abstract
Research to ascertain the effectiveness of hydrogen cyanamide (Dormex®) to advance bloom and fruit ripening of two sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars was carried out in the Apulia region (southeastern Italy) during 2002 (964 chill hours), 2003 (592 chill hours) and 2004 (834 chill hours). The effects of four concentrations of hydrogen cyanamide (0.0 as control, 2.0, 3.5 and 5.0%) and three times of application were tested on Burlat and Ferrovia. In 2002, the best results were obtained by early treatments (57 and 50 days before natural bloom of Burlat and Ferrovia, respectively) with all concentrations.
The maximum advancement of bloom was 11 to 13 days in Burlat and 7 to 9 days in Ferrovia. The maximum advancement of fruit ripening was 7 to 8 days in Burlat and 6 to 8 days in Ferrovia. The unusually mild 2002/2003 winter influenced the research, greatly reducing the advancement of both bloom and ripening of the two cultivars.
In 2004, early treatments (79 and 62 days before natural bloom of Burlat and Ferrovia, respectively) achieved the best results.
The greatest advancement of fruit ripening was by 7 days in Burlat and by 8 days in Ferrovia.
In general, early treatments (between 50 and 85 days before natural bloom) and low concentrations (2.0 and 3.5%), applied after a normal winter, were the best in terms of effectiveness, cost and respect of the environment.
The effects of hydrogen cyanamide did not extend beyond bud break and climatic factors seemed to influence fruit growth processes from bloom onward, generally decreasing the initial gain in development.
The maximum advancement of bloom was 11 to 13 days in Burlat and 7 to 9 days in Ferrovia. The maximum advancement of fruit ripening was 7 to 8 days in Burlat and 6 to 8 days in Ferrovia. The unusually mild 2002/2003 winter influenced the research, greatly reducing the advancement of both bloom and ripening of the two cultivars.
In 2004, early treatments (79 and 62 days before natural bloom of Burlat and Ferrovia, respectively) achieved the best results.
The greatest advancement of fruit ripening was by 7 days in Burlat and by 8 days in Ferrovia.
In general, early treatments (between 50 and 85 days before natural bloom) and low concentrations (2.0 and 3.5%), applied after a normal winter, were the best in terms of effectiveness, cost and respect of the environment.
The effects of hydrogen cyanamide did not extend beyond bud break and climatic factors seemed to influence fruit growth processes from bloom onward, generally decreasing the initial gain in development.
Publication
Authors
A. Godini, M. Palasciano, G. Ferrara, S. Camposeo, A. Pacifico
Keywords
Prunus avium, ‘Burlat’, ‘Ferrovia’, chill hours, endodormancy, advanced bloom
Online Articles (157)