PLANT BIOREGULATORS IN THE DECIDUOUS FRUIT TREE NURSERY

Among the many bioregulator products tested for branch induction over the past half century, products containing cytokinins (e.g., 6-benzyladenine) with or without gibberellic acid isomers (usually a mixture of GA4+7) have proven the most useful for producing good quality feathered nursery trees.
A new bioregulator, cyclanilide^® (CYC, Bayer Environmental Science, Research Triangle Park, N.C.), was registered in the US as Tiberon^TM SC in 2009 for lateral branch induction on nursery apple (Malus × domestica), pear (Pyrus communis) and sweet cherry (Prunus avium) trees as well as woody ornamental species.
CYC treatment of difficult-to-branch cultivars such as ‘Cameo’ apple or ‘Bing’ sweet cherry trees in the nursery increased the formation of well-developed feathers up to 6-fold and with minor or no effect on caliper or final tree height.
Copper chelate (CuEDTA) combined with urea is a popular fall treatment for fruit-tree nursery stock to stimulate defoliation prior to tree digging for cold storage over winter.
Preliminary trials in Washington suggest that tank-mixes of CYC and abscisic acid may provide more rapid defoliation than either product alone or standard Cu/urea programs.

XI International Symposium on Plant Bioregulators in Fruit Production

D.C. Elfving

Malus × domestica, Prunus avium, Pyrus communis, apple, pear, sweet cherry, plant growth regulator, benzyladenine, cyclanilide

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.884.18