Vol. 76 No: 3

Title:
Corn oil emulsion for early bloom thinning of trees of 'Delicious' apple, 'Feng Huang' peach, and 'Bing' cherry

Authors:
ZHIGUO JU, YOUSHENG DUAN, ZHIQIANG JU and AIXIN GUO

pp: 327-331

Abstract:
Corn oil emulsions at 1%, 3%, or 5% were sprayed to 'Delicious' apple, 'Feng Huang' peach, and 'Bing' cherry trees at prebloom, 20%, 50%, and 80% full bloom (FB), respectively, and the effects of these combinations on bloom thinning, fruit set, foliage injury, and return bloom were studied. The thinning effect of oil emulsion was concentration and application time dependent, with the higher concentration applied earlier being most effective. On apple and peach trees, 3% to 5% of corn oil applied between prebloom and 20% FB thinned adequately. They were less effective when applied at 50% FB and were not effective at 80% FB. At 1%, oil emulsion was not effective even when applied at early stages. In cherries, oil emulsions at 1% and 3% applied at prebloom to 20% FB thinned fruit to acceptable degrees. Oil at 5%, however, over thinned. Oil emulsion was less effective when applied at 50% FB and not effective at 80% FB even at high oil concentrations. Oil at 3% or 5% applied at 20% FB increased fruit weight and soluble solids but reduced total yields in cherries. Oil treatments did not injure fruit or foliage either at application or afterwards. Return bloom was not affected in peaches and cherries but was improved in apples by oil treatment.

Full text: JHSB Subscribers     ISHS members & other users
(PDF 440960 bytes)

Go back to previous page