Vol. 84 No: 2

Title:
GA₃ inhibits flowering, reduces hand-thinning, and increases fruit size in peach and nectarine

Authors:
RAPHAEL A. STERN and RUTH BEN-ARIE

pp: 119-124

Abstract:
Peaches and nectarines belong to a self-pollinating species and therefore tend to set a large number of small fruit. Chemical-thinning is not efficient in stone fruit. Consequently hand-thinning of fruitlets has become the commercial practice, although it is very expensive and not efficient at this stage. Over five consecutive years (2003 – 2007), application of 25 mg l-1 GA₃ to the basal part of shoots during flower bud induction (60 d after full bloom ) reduced flowering of ‘Snow-Queen’, ‘Queen-Giant’, and ‘Arctic Mist’ nectarines, and ‘Scarlet-Snow’ peach in the following season. As a result, the time spent on hand-thinning was reduced by ca. 50%, and the yields of large fruit increased approx. two-to-three fold. Ripening of ‘Queen-Giant’ nectarine fruit was delayed slightly, and the incidence of internal breakdown following storage was reduced. Since the effect of the GA₃ treatment lasted for only 1 year, it is suggested that it should be applied annually.

Full text: JHSB Subscribers     ISHS members & other users
(PDF 241459 bytes)

Translate:

Go back to previous page