Growth and crop load management in apple trees with bioregulators
Author: Don C. Elfving
Published: 2007
Summary: The objectives of this project were: 1. Evaluate GA effects on return bloom in several alternating apple cultivars, e.g., ‘Fuji,’ ‘Cameo,’ and ‘Braeburn.’ 2. Examine single vs. multiple timings of various GA concentrations for efficacy in control of return bloom in apple to reduce amount of GA used, if possible. 3. Continue to test post-thinning ethephon as a method for stimulation of return bloom in cropping trees of several important apple cultivars, particularly those with alternate bearing problems. 4. Combine ethephon and GA programs in alternating cultivars as a possible strategy to help overcome alternate bearing. 5. Re-examine the integration of chemical thinning programs with GA/ethephon programs for beneficial effects on reduction of alternate cropping. 6. Test the use of cyclanilide and cytokinin bioregulators in high vigor sleeping-eye plantings for utility in programming lateral branch development into a specific canopy architecture as desired by the grower.
