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- Author or Editor: John M. Smagula x
Two experiments evaluated the Trevett (1972) Cu standard of 7 ppm by raising leaf Cu concentrations in a commercial blueberry field having low (∼4 ppm) leaf Cu concentrations. A foliar spray of Cu Keylate (5% Cu) (Stoller Enterprises, Inc.) in a volume of 627 L·ha-1 applied 0, 0.56 1.12, 1.68, or 2.24 kg·ha-1 of Cu. Ammonium sulfate at 3.1 kg·ha-1 was added to the solutions to enhance Cu absorption. A preemergent soil application of Micromate Calcium Fortified Mix (Stoller Enterprises, Inc.), a micronutrient mixture containing Cu (0.3%), was also tested at 14 kg·ha-1. These 6 treatments were replicated 7 times in a randomized complete-block design in 2001. Treatments were reapplied in 2003 in a split-plot design with Cu treatments as the main plots and an application of DAP at 448 kg·ha-1 as the split plots. In 2001, leaf Cu concentrations increased linearly, up to 12 ppm, with increasing rates of Cu, but Micromate had no effect. Leaf N and P concentrations were below the standards of 1.6% and 0.125%, respectively, and could explain why raising leaf Cu concentrations had no effect on growth or yield. In 2003, DAP corrected the N and P deficiency and leaf Cu concentrations were raised to above the 7 ppm standard with 2.24 kg·ha-1 of Cu, but again, no effect on growth or yield was found. The Cu standard appears to be too high.
Four organic fertilizers were evaluated in a commercial lowbush blueberry field with a history of N and P deficiency. In nonorganic production, diammonium phosphate (DAP) is the standard fertilizer for correcting N and P deficiency. Nitrogen a rate of 67 kg·ha-1 [Renaissance (8-2-6), ProHolly (4-6-4), Pro Grow (5-3-4), Nutri-Wave (4-1-2), or DAP (18-46-0)] was applied preemergent to 1.8-m × 15-m treatment plots. Leaf N and P were deficient (<1.6% and 0.125%, for N and P, respectively) in the unfertilized plots that served as controls. DAP and Pro-Holly raised leaf N to satisfactory levels (>1.6%). Only DAP raised leaf P concentrations (0.144%), compared to controls (0.122%). Leaf K was not deficient, but was raised by Pro-Holly. Soil pH was slightly lowered by Renaissance (4.2) and raised by Pro-Holly (4.4), compared to the control (4.3). Soil P concentrations were raised by DAP and soil S by Pro-Holly. Soil K was raised by all fertilizers except DAP, compared to the control. Pro-Holly and DAP were equally effective in increasing stem height, branching, branch length, flower bud formation, and yield, compared to the control and the other organic fertilizers. Pro-Holly could effectively substitute for DAP in organic wild blueberry production.
Abstract
Fertilization with 98 and 196 kg N/ha from urea or sulfur-coated urea (SCU) resulted in higher amounts of K2SO4-extractable ammonium N in the 0-7.6 cm but not the 7.6-15.2 cm soil layer. There was no difference due to sources of N. Application of 98 kg N/ha from either urea or SCU to portions of 5 clones of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium augustifolium Ait.) increased N concentration, size and weight of leaves, flower bud formation, and yield.
Abstract
A new method for analyzing acetaldehyde concentration in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) tissues was used to measure its accumulation in senescing fruits. Initially low levels (1 µg/g fresh weight) increased as the fruits ripened, but only at advanced senescence did they reach relatively high levels (14 µg/g fresh weight). Acetaldehyde did not accumulate in advance of tissue disorganization. Watercored ‘Delicious’ apple tissue accumulated significantly more acetaldehyde than tissue of non-watercored fruits during storage, but watercore breakdown did not result. There was no consistent difference in acetaldehyde levels of ethephon-treated and non-treated ‘McIntosh’ apples after long-term storage, although the ethephon-treated fruits developed more senescent breakdown. However, the acetaldehyde level in fruits after breakdown occurred was about 20% higher than that in corresponding sound fruit. Acetaldehyde accumulation appeared to be a consequence of tissue disorganization rather than a cause of senescent breakdown in the fruits.
Abstract
Cuttings of 2 clones of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) treated with increasing rates of urea (0, 40, 80 kg N/ha) during rooting resulted in increased levels of total stem nitrogen in the respective treatments. Fall flowering and vegetative growth of cuttings in the propagation beds were stimulated by nitrogen treatments. Plants moved to cold storage (5°C) for 3 months and then grown under long day (16 hours) greenhouse conditions for 2 months did not produce more rhizomes in response to nitrogen treatments. However, plants which remained in the propagation beds during the winter and which were grown under field conditions for 6 months, responded to the nitrogen treatments by producing larger root systems, more aerial growth and more rhizomes.
For accelerating the filling in of bare areas in native lowbush blueberry fields or converting new areas to production, micropropagated plantlets rooted after three subcultures outperformed seedlings and rooted softwood cuttings. After 2 years of field growth, they averaged 20.3 rhizomes each of average dry weight 3.5 g, as compared with 5.7 rhizomes of average dry weight 1.1 g for rooted softwood cuttings. After 1 year of field growth, seedlings produced on average 3.3 vs. 0.4 rhizomes from micropropagated plants that had not been subcultured and 0.3 rhizomes from stem cuttings. Apparently, subculturing on cytokinin-rich media induces the juvenile branching characteristic that provides micropropagated plants with the desirable morphologies and growth habits of seedlings. These characteristics favor rhizome production while the benefits of asexual reproduction are retained. The advantage in rhizome production of micropropagation over stem cuttings varied among clones.
In three commercial fields with a history of low leaf P concentrations, triple super phosphate (TSP) (1 P: 0 N), monoammonium phosphate (MAP) (2.1 P: 1 N), and diammonium phosphate (DAP) (1.11 P: 1 N) with P at 67.2 kg·ha-1 were compared to a control in a randomized complete-block design with 12 blocks. In 1995, all fertilizer treatments were comparable in raising soil P concentrations, but MAP and DAP resulted in higher P leaf concentrations compared to the control. DAP was more effective than MAP in raising N leaf concentrations. Leaf concentrations of Mg, B, and Cu were lowered by MAP and DAP but not TSP. Stem density, stem length, flower buds per stem, flower bud density, and yield were raised by DAP. The same treatments were applied in May 1997 and in May 1999 to the same plots in the same fields. In 1997, by the time of tip dieback in the prune year of that cycle, foliar concentration of P and N averaged higher than in the previous cycle, but still were not up to the standard for N. Fruit yield for the second cycle averaged substantially higher for the controls and for all three treatments, most dramatically for the DAP. In 1999, with only two fields available, response to treatments depended on soil N availability. At the field where leaf N was lower in control plots, MAP and DAP were more effective than TSP in raising leaf P.
Abstract
Acetaldehyde is a metabolite frequently attributed a key role in physiological deterioration of fruits and other plant materials. In fruits, it accumulates during ripening and during development of many physiological disorders. Its role in deterioration, however, is not clear. Its toxicity is easily demonstrated, hence it is tempting to ascribe injury and degeneration to acetaldehyde accumulation. Nevertheless, a body of evidence suggests that its accumulation is a result, rather than cause, of tissue disorganization. Resolution of this question awaits development of an analytical method that will overcome the deficiencies inherent in methods used in the past.
Abstract
A light requirement for improved seed germination of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) was partially overcome by GA treatments; GA at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 ppm stimulated early germination of seeds kept in the dark. The germination rate of seeds exposed to an 8 hour light period was also enhanced by GA treatments. Continuous exposure to concentrations above 1000 ppm resulted in abnormally curled seedlings with necrotic root tips.
In a managed field of native Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. clones, the effect of fall foliar sprays of B at 345 g·ha-1 and/or Ca at 3,450 g·ha-1 in remedying tissue deficiency of B varied among 12 clones, as seen in pollen germinability and on individual stems as seen in flower number, fruit set, and number of harvestable berries. With Ca applied alone, increased berry size did not overcome yield reduction due to fewer flowers and berries per stem. Berry diameter and mass correlated better to number of seeds of germinable size than to total number of seeds. Pollen germination averaged 17.4% on stigmata from untreated clones, and all three treatments (B, Ca, B + Ca) increased that average by 8%. More seeds per berry with the B-alone treatment implies more ovules fertilized when B deficiency is remedied. No relation was found between in vitro and in vivo pollen germination.