INFLUENCE OF PROHEXADIONE-CALCIUM ON VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF ‘0900 ZIRAAT’ SWEET CHERRY

Abstract

Effects of prohexadione-calcium (ProCa, 125 and 250 mgL^–1) and ProCa + ammonium sulfate (AMS, 500 mgL^–1) treatments on vegetative characteristics (shoot growth, branch diameter, trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), canopy volume, number of flower per cm², number of fruits per cm²) and quality parameters (fruit size, flesh firmness, color, titratable acidity and soluble solids content (SSC)) of ‘0900 Ziraat’ sweet cherry were investigated in this study. Solutions were sprayed when the shoots were just 10 cm long in 2014 and 2015. As compared to control, in 2015, TCSA decreased only with ProCa treatments (125 and 250 mgL^–1) and canopy volume and shoot length decreased with all treatments. On the other hand, number of flower and fruit per cm² significantly increased with all treatments. While there were not significant differences in fruit size, flesh firmness, color, SSC and titratable acidity values were significantly lower in 250 mgL^–1 ProCa and 250 mgL^–1 ProCa + AMS treatments. It was concluded that ProCa treatments could be used as an efficient tool for suppression of shoot growth and to increase the number of flower and fruits per cm² in ‘0900 Ziraat’ sweet cherry cultivar.