Abstract
The objective of this research was to determine the effects of chemical thinning with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and nitrogen (N) fertilization, as well as their interaction in relation to fruit set and physical properties of apple cv. Golden Delicious Reinders®. Nitrogen rates used were 30 and 60 kg·ha−1 N applied at the pink bud stage. NAA for fruit thinning was applied at the rates of 10, 12 and 14 μl·l−1. Fruit set was increased by increasing the amount of N applied while the efficacy of NAA for fruit thinning was not linearly correlated to the concentration of the chemical. The total number of fruits per tree was inconsistently reduced in NAA treatments at 30 and 60 kg·ha−1 N, while total yield was reduced by thinning at 60 kg·ha−1 N, meaning that apple trees are more responsive to NAA application at higher N supply. At sufficient N supply, fruits responded more intensively to thinning with NAA by increasing their growth. Thinning with NAA caused a significant decrease in flesh firmness only in fruits from unfertilized plot.
References
AGRIOS (2011). www.agrios.it/doc/Guidelines_2011_ english.pdf, accessed 3rd August 2011.
Black, B.L., Bukovac, M.J., Stopar, M. (2000). Intraspur fruit competition and position influence fruit size at harvest and response to chemical thinning agents in spur-type ‘Delicious’ apple. Acta Hortic., 527, 119–125.
Cheng, L., Raba, R. (2009). Accumulation of macro- and micronutrients and nitrogen demand-supply relationship of Gala/Malling 26 apple trees grown in sand culture. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci., 134, 3–13.
Duchêne, E., Schneider, C., Gaudillêre, P. (2001). Effects of nitrogen nutrition timing on fruit set of grapevine, cv. grenache. Vitis, 40, 45–46.
Enger, H., Riehm, H., Domingo, W.R. (1960). Untersuchungen über die shemische Bodenanalyse als Grundlage für die Beurteilung des Nährstoffzustandes der Böden. II Chemische Extrationsmethoden zur Phosphur-und Kaliumbestimmung. Kungl. Lantbr. Högsk. Ann., 26, 199–215.
Ernani, P.R., Rogeri, D.A., Proenca, M.M., Dias, J. (2008). Addition of nitrogen had no effect on yield and quality of apples in a high density orchard carrying a dwarf rootstock. Rev. Bras. Frutic., 30, 1113–1118.
ISO 10390 (2007). Soil quality – Determination of pH.
Greene, D.W., Lakso, A.N., Robinson, T.L., Schwallier, P. (2013). Development of a fruitlet growth model to predict thinner response on apples. HortScience, 48, 584–587.
Milić, B., Čabilovski, R., Keserović, Z., Manojlović, M., Magazin, N., Dorić, M, (2012a). Nitrogen fertilization and chemical thinning with 6-benzyladenine affect fruit set and quality of Golden Delicious apples. Sci. Hortic., 140, 81–86.
Milić, B., Keserović, Z., Magazin, N., Dorić, M. (2012b). Fruit quality and bearing potential of chemically thinned ‘Braeburn’ and ‘Camspur’ apples. Žemdirbystė 99(3), 287–292.
Nava, G., Dechen, A.R. (2009). Long-term annual fertilization with nitrogen and potassium affect yield and mineralcomposition of ‘Fuji’ apple. Sci. Agric., 66, 377–385.
Neilsen, D., Neilsen, G.H., Herbert, L.C., Millard, P., Guak, S. (2006). Allocation of dry matter and N to fruit and shoots in dwarf apple in response to sink size and N availability. Acta Hortic., 721, 33–40.
Neilsen, G.H., Neilsen, D., Herbert, L.C. (2009). Nitrogen fertigation concentration and timing of application affect nitrogen nutrition, yield, firmness, and color of apples grown at high density. HortScience, 44(5), 1425–1431.
Pellerin, B.P., Buszard, D., Georgallas, A., Nowakowski, R.J. (2012). A novel framework to consider endogenous hormonal control of apple tree flowering. HortScience, 47, 589–592.
Raese, J.T., Drake, S.R., Curry, E.A. (2007). Nitrogen fertilizer influences fruit quality, soil nutrients and cover crops, leaf color and nitrogen content, biennial bearing and cold hardiness of ‘Golden Delicious’. J. Plant Nutr., 30, 1585–1604.
Robinson, T.L. (2006). Inteaction of benzyladenine and naphtaleneacetic acid on fruit set fruit size and crop value of twelve apple cultivars. Acta Hortic., 727, 283–290.
Siddiqui, S., Bangerth, F. (1995). Effect of pre-harvest application of calcium on flesh firmness and cell-wall composition of apples – influence of fruit size. J. Hort. Sci., 70, 263–269.
Stover, E.W., Greene, D.W. (2005). Environmental effects on the performance of foliar applied plant growth regulators: a review focusing on tree fruits. HortTechnology, 15, 214–221.
Tagliavini, M., Quartieri, M., Millard, P. (1997). Remobilised nitrogen and root uptake of nitrate for spring leaf growth, flowers and developing fruits of pear (Pyrus communis L.) trees. Plant Soil, 195, 137–142.
Tahir, I.I., Johansson, E., Olsson, E.M. (2007). Improvement of quality and storability of apple cv. Aroma by adjustment of some pre-harvest conditions. Sci. Hortic., 112, 164–171.
Toselli, M., Flore, J.A., Zavalloni, C., Maragoni, B. (2000). Nitrogen partitioning in apple trees as affected by application time. Hort. Technol., 10, 136–141.
Wang, H., Cheng, L. (2011). Differential effects of nitrogen supply on skin pigmentation and flesh starch breakdown of ‘Gala’ apple. Hort. Sci., 46, 1–5.
Wargo, M.J., Merwin, A.I., Watkins, B.C. (2003). Fruit size, yield and market value of ‘Gold Rush’ apple are affected by amount, timing and method of nitrogen fertilization. HortTechnology, 13, 153–161.
Wehrmann, J., Scharpf, H.C. (1979). Mineral nitrogen in soil as an indicator for nitrogen fertilizer requirements (Nmin-method). Plant Soil, 52, 109–126 (in German).
Wrona, D. (2011). The influence of nitrogen fertilization on growth, yield and fruit size of ‘Jonagored’ apple trees. Acta Sci. Pol. Hortorum Cultus, 10, 3–10.
Xia, G., Cheng, L., Lakso, A., Goffinet, M. (2009). Effects of nitrogen supply on source-sink balance and fruit size of ‘Gala Apple’ trees. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci., 134, 126–133.
Zhu, H., Dardick, C.D., Beers, E.P., Callanhan, A.M., Xia, R., Yuan, R. (2011). Transcriptomics of shadinginduced and NAA-induced abscission in apple (Malus domestica) reveals a shared pathway involving reduced photosynthesis, alterations in carbohydrate transport and signaling and hormone crosstalk. BMC Plant Biol., 11, 138.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
