Articles
OPTIMIZING BENZYLADENINE APPLICATION TIMING IN ‘WILLIAMS’ PEAR
Article number
884_31
Pages
265 – 272
Language
English
Abstract
Timing of application of 6-benzyladenine (BA) to mature Williams pear trees was studied in Río Negro, Argentina and in Oregon, USA. In Argentina, a single application of 150 mg L-1 BA was applied at petal fall or at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, or 28 days after petal fall (DAPF) in a completely randomized design.
Control trees were sprayed with water.
In Oregon, a single application of 125 mg L-1 BA was applied at petal fall or 5, 10, 15, or 18 DAPF. Variables measured were: flower cluster density (cluster number per cm2 branch cross sectional area, BCSA); fruit number per 100 flower clusters; fruit number per cm2 BCSA and fruit set distribution (spurs where fruit set was zero, one, or more than one). After harvest, fruit weight, diameter, length and commercial size classification were evaluated.
In Argentina, fruit thinning was significant between 4 and 16 DAPF when fruit diameters were between 9 and 19 mm.
In Oregon, with a lower dosage of BA, fruit set was not significantly reduced by BA treatments.
When fruit were classified according to commercial sizes in the standard box (20 kg), treatments applied between 4 and 16 DAPF in Argentina (150 mg L-1) had the greatest frequencies of commercial size 90 and larger, while in Oregon (125 mg L-1) applications between 10 and 18 DAPF resulted in an increased percentage of fruit in commercial size 90 and larger.
Control trees were sprayed with water.
In Oregon, a single application of 125 mg L-1 BA was applied at petal fall or 5, 10, 15, or 18 DAPF. Variables measured were: flower cluster density (cluster number per cm2 branch cross sectional area, BCSA); fruit number per 100 flower clusters; fruit number per cm2 BCSA and fruit set distribution (spurs where fruit set was zero, one, or more than one). After harvest, fruit weight, diameter, length and commercial size classification were evaluated.
In Argentina, fruit thinning was significant between 4 and 16 DAPF when fruit diameters were between 9 and 19 mm.
In Oregon, with a lower dosage of BA, fruit set was not significantly reduced by BA treatments.
When fruit were classified according to commercial sizes in the standard box (20 kg), treatments applied between 4 and 16 DAPF in Argentina (150 mg L-1) had the greatest frequencies of commercial size 90 and larger, while in Oregon (125 mg L-1) applications between 10 and 18 DAPF resulted in an increased percentage of fruit in commercial size 90 and larger.
Authors
G. Giménez, P. Reeb, M.C. Dussi, F. Elosegui, P. Siviero, S. Fantaguzzi, D. Sugar
Keywords
Pyrus communis, fruit thinning, fruit size, fruit set
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