Articles
THE EFFECT OF MAXIM® (3, 5, 6-TPA) IN PREVENTING PRE-HARVEST FRUIT DROP IN ‘CONFERENCE’ AND ‘BLANQUILLA’ PEAR
Article number
909_51
Pages
441 – 450
Language
English
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Maxim® (3, 5, 6-TPA) in reducing pre-harvest fruit drop and its effect on fruit quality, both at harvest and after 3 months of cold storage.
In the first year (2007), 5 Maxim® strategies were tested on Blanquilla and Conference pear trees; 3 strategies were applied 3, 4 and 5 weeks before harvest (wbh) at 10 g/hl; and 2 strategies were applied 4 wbh at 20 and 30 g/hl.
All these strategies were compared to a standard treatment (NAA K salt 8.5% at 40 cc/hl, applied 1 wbh) and an untreated control.
In the second year (2008), the same strategies were tested on Conference. Pre-harvest fruit drop, fruit yield, fruit weight and fruit quality at harvest and postharvest, were evaluated in both years but in 2008, the trees were shaken just before harvest to force the fruit drop.
The results obtained in 2007 showed that Maxim® application produced a significant reduction in fruit drop for Blanquilla, except for the application of 5 wbh at
10 g/hl.
In the case of Conference, not enough fruits dropped to evaluate the efficacy of the treatments.
In 2008, Maxim® produced a reduction in pre-harvest fruit drop for Conference. This effect was greater when the trees were shaken.
In both years, Maxim® efficacy showed a tendency to increase with dose application and with application times closer to the harvest period.
In the case of fruit quality, the highest dose of Maxim® produced a reduction in fruit firmness at postharvest (2007) and harvest (2008) in Conference, but neither effect was observed in Blanquilla.
In the first year (2007), 5 Maxim® strategies were tested on Blanquilla and Conference pear trees; 3 strategies were applied 3, 4 and 5 weeks before harvest (wbh) at 10 g/hl; and 2 strategies were applied 4 wbh at 20 and 30 g/hl.
All these strategies were compared to a standard treatment (NAA K salt 8.5% at 40 cc/hl, applied 1 wbh) and an untreated control.
In the second year (2008), the same strategies were tested on Conference. Pre-harvest fruit drop, fruit yield, fruit weight and fruit quality at harvest and postharvest, were evaluated in both years but in 2008, the trees were shaken just before harvest to force the fruit drop.
The results obtained in 2007 showed that Maxim® application produced a significant reduction in fruit drop for Blanquilla, except for the application of 5 wbh at
10 g/hl.
In the case of Conference, not enough fruits dropped to evaluate the efficacy of the treatments.
In 2008, Maxim® produced a reduction in pre-harvest fruit drop for Conference. This effect was greater when the trees were shaken.
In both years, Maxim® efficacy showed a tendency to increase with dose application and with application times closer to the harvest period.
In the case of fruit quality, the highest dose of Maxim® produced a reduction in fruit firmness at postharvest (2007) and harvest (2008) in Conference, but neither effect was observed in Blanquilla.
Publication
Authors
E. Torres, L. Asín, S. Alegre
Keywords
Pyrus communis, fruit drop, fruit quality, synthetic auxin
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