BENZYLADENINE EFFECTS ON FRUIT QUALITY OF ‘SWEETHEART’ AND ‘LAPINS’ SWEET CHERRIES

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of 6-benzyladenine (BA) applications on fruit quality of ‘Sweetheart’ and ‘Lapins’ sweet cherries in two different growing regions of Patagonia, Argentina: the Upper Valley of Río Negro (38°55’ South Latitude) and the Lower Valley of Chubut River (43°15’ South Latitude). In each location, two doses of BA (200 and 300 mg L^-1) were applied at 10, 25 and 40 days after full bloom (DAFB). Untreated trees served as control.
The statistical design was completely randomized.
The variables measured were: flower number, fruit number/cm² branch cross sectional area (BCSA), fruit number/100 flowers, fruit weight, length, diameter, percentage of fruits larger than 26 mm of diameter, fruit soluble solids content and firmness.
A linear model for the multifactor design (2×3+1) was adjusted to each response variable and evaluated by analysis of variance.
Main effects (BA dose and application time) and interactions were defined by specific contrast of interest and tested by F-ratios.
Variables indicating fruit set, like fruit number/cm² BCSA and fruit number/100 flowers did not differ among treatments in any of the two cultivars.
BA applications did not show a clear effect on fruit size and on the measured fruit quality variables.

XI International Symposium on Plant Bioregulators in Fruit Production

G. Giardina, P. Reeb, M.C. Dussi, J. Gastiazoro, K. Zon, J. Nichols, J. Nyeki , Z. Szabó, B. Pugh, J. Racsko

6-benzyladenine (BA), fruit size, soluble solids content, Prunus avium

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.884.60