Articles
EFFECT OF SOYBEAN OIL AND ABSCISIC ACID ANALOGS ON EARLY SEASON GRAPE GROWTH
Article number
884_57
Pages
455 – 460
Language
English
Abstract
Research has shown that spraying petroleum-derived or botanical oils during cold deacclimation of peach buds can delay bud phenology and potentially reduce cold damage.
Researchers recently suggested that winter-time applications of oil may minimize cold damage to grape after budburst.
Elevated levels of abscisic acid (ABA) in tree buds have been associated with cold dormancy in trials. Niagara grape (Vitis labrusca) spurs were sprayed to runoff on 30 March 2005 with water (control); ABA analogs 30025 (1000 mgL-1) or 30030 (50 mgL-1) (Valent BioSciences Corp.); or the analogs plus 20 mlL-1 TNsoy14 (g 96% soybean oil, a.i.) in water.
The ABA was dissolved with ethyl alcohol and stored in the dark until mixed in the spray tank in the field with Tween 20 (5 mlL-1) as an adjuvant.
Grape bud phenology was periodically rated using a nine point phenological scale ranging from dormant buds until fruit set.
Fruit were harvested 25 August.
All ABA and oil sprays delayed phenological development through 1 May (flowering onset of controls). Length of shoots on spurs treated with ABA 30025 was 24 and 40% less than control shoots on 20 April and 1 May, respectively.
Shoots from ABA 30030 treated spurs had 60 and 50% less growth on 20 April and 1 May, respectively.
The ABA 30030 spray reduced the number of flower clusters per spur at harvest (25 August), cluster weight and fruit yield per shoot; but did not significantly affect berry size or soluble solid content.
ABA 30025 did not significantly affect yield or fruit quality.
A similar trial was conducted on Golden Muscat grapes in 2006. Bud phenology appeared slightly delayed until the end of flowering, but was not statistically significant.
Yields were not collected because of hail damage.
Researchers recently suggested that winter-time applications of oil may minimize cold damage to grape after budburst.
Elevated levels of abscisic acid (ABA) in tree buds have been associated with cold dormancy in trials. Niagara grape (Vitis labrusca) spurs were sprayed to runoff on 30 March 2005 with water (control); ABA analogs 30025 (1000 mgL-1) or 30030 (50 mgL-1) (Valent BioSciences Corp.); or the analogs plus 20 mlL-1 TNsoy14 (g 96% soybean oil, a.i.) in water.
The ABA was dissolved with ethyl alcohol and stored in the dark until mixed in the spray tank in the field with Tween 20 (5 mlL-1) as an adjuvant.
Grape bud phenology was periodically rated using a nine point phenological scale ranging from dormant buds until fruit set.
Fruit were harvested 25 August.
All ABA and oil sprays delayed phenological development through 1 May (flowering onset of controls). Length of shoots on spurs treated with ABA 30025 was 24 and 40% less than control shoots on 20 April and 1 May, respectively.
Shoots from ABA 30030 treated spurs had 60 and 50% less growth on 20 April and 1 May, respectively.
The ABA 30030 spray reduced the number of flower clusters per spur at harvest (25 August), cluster weight and fruit yield per shoot; but did not significantly affect berry size or soluble solid content.
ABA 30025 did not significantly affect yield or fruit quality.
A similar trial was conducted on Golden Muscat grapes in 2006. Bud phenology appeared slightly delayed until the end of flowering, but was not statistically significant.
Yields were not collected because of hail damage.
Authors
D.E. Deyton, C.E. Sams, J.C. Cummins
Keywords
bloom delay, fruit thinning, ABA
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