ISHS Acta Horticulturae 329: VII International Symposium on Plant Growth Regulators in Fruit Production
A REVIEW OF THE USE OF BENZYLADENINE (BA) AS A CHEMICAL THINNER FOR APPLES |
| Author: | Duane W. Greene |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1993.329.50 |
| Abstract:
Benzyladenine is an effective thinner on apples at concentrations between 50 and 100 ppm. When used at rates higher than 150 ppm, overthinning is possible, spur elongation may occur and asymmetric fruit may be produced. BA effectively thinned McIntosh, Empire, Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Idared. BA was most effective when applied at the 10 mm stage of fruit development. It increased fruit weight as a result of reducing crop load, but it also increased fruit weight additionally and independent of its effects on crop load. BA frequently increased flesh firmness and soluble solids, but in order to do this it had be applied directly to the fruit. To thin effectively BA must be applied directly to the leaves. BA thins indiscriminately, since it thins or defruits as many spurs carrying single fruit as those carrying multiple fruit. There was a direct and inverse relationship between the number of fruit removed and return bloom. Penetration of BA into the fruit was considerably higher than penetration into the leaves through either the abaxial or adaxial surfaces. Penetration was linear with increasing concentration between 40 and 200 ppm. Fruit treated with BA appeared to store was well as untreated fruit of comparable size. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
