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- Author or Editor: William J. Lord x
Abstract
Six consecutive, single, annual applications of succinic acid–2,2-dimethylhydrazide (SADH) were applied, commencing with 2-year-old trees, in mid-July (51-67 days after full bloom) or mid-August at rates of 1000, 2000 or 4000 ppm. Other trees in the same block received 3 consecutive annual applications of 500 or 1000 ppm SADH in mid-June (31-40 days after full bloom) or mid-July.
All SADH treatments delayed fruit flesh softening and reduced the severity of watercore and pre-harvest drop, but had no effect on trunk circumference increase, amount of bloom and fruit set. There was no terminal growth suppression of practical significance. With the exception of 500 ppm in mid-June or mid-July, all SADH treatments depressed fruit size. SADH suppressed rate of fruit growth and induced the formation of flatter fruits with shortened, thickened stems.
Abstract
Fruit thinning by a postbloom spray of 1-naphthyl n-methycarbamate (carbaryl) or naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) was not increased by a previous full bloom spray of gibberellin A4+7 (GA4+7) plus 6-benzylamino purine (BA). Chemical thinning generally increased return bloom but not fruit size. GA4+7 + BA consistently increased the fruit L/D ratio, showed no effect on fruit size or seed number, and these responses were not altered by the chemical thinners. Overall responses were similar for trees treated either one or 2 consecutive years with GA4+7 + BA and chemical thinners. Response to treatment was similar among strain of ‘Delicious’ and did not vary with tree age.
Abstract
Late summer pruning of ‘McIntosh’ apple trees for 3 consecutive years improved red color development on fruit but had no influence on fruit size, soluble solids, fruit flesh Ca, flesh firmness, or senescent breakdown during storage.
Abstract
A planting of ‘Starkrimson Delicious’ (Bisbee strain) apple trees was established in 1981 on M.27 EMLA, P.2/KA313, P.22/KA313, and C.6/KA313. After 6 years, trees on P.2/KA313 and C.6/KA313 were similar in size and larger than those on M.27 EMLA and P.22/KA313. P.22/KA313 induced profuse suckering, whereas trees on M.27 EMLA were virtually sucker-free. Cumulative yields per tree (1984–86) were the highest on P.2/KA313 and C.6/KA313. However, cumulative production efficiencies were highest for trees on M.27 EMLA and P.2/KA313. The least efficient trees were on P.22/KA313. Foliar analyses indicated that trees on M.27 EMLA had the highest levels of N, Ca, Mn, and Zn.
Abstract
Summer pruning 6-year-old trees of ‘Cortland’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) for 3 consecutive years in either early July or early August reduced trunk circumference increase the year of pruning and increased terminal growth the following year. Terminal growth on 8-year-old ‘Red Prince Delicious’ trees summer-pruned in August for 3 consecutive years was similar to dormant-pruned trees, and trunk circumference increase was reduced the last 2 years. Fruit size and soluble solids were reduced the last 2 years. Fruit size and soluble solids were reduced by summer pruning ‘Cortland’ but not ‘Red Prince’. Flowering, fruit set, yield, flesh firmness, flesh calcium, and storage disorders were not affected by summer pruning of either cultivar. Terminal growth of ‘Cortland’ trees was reduced the year of scoring and the following year. Bloom was increased the year following scoring. Scoring ‘Red Prince’ for 3 consecutive years consistently reduced terminal growth and increased yield the second and third years. Corrective dormant pruning (CDP) on ‘Red Prince’ reduced bloom but not yield the first year. In the 2 subsequent years, bloom, fruit set, and yield were not affected by CDP and the practice alleviated the problem of tree crowding. Summer pruning on ‘Cortland’ trees followed by a postbloom spray of butanedioic acid mono(2,2-dimethyl hydrazide) (daminozide) of 1500 ppm showed promise as a way to control tree growth, increase flower bud formation, and fruit set.
Abstract
Spraying trees of ‘McIntosh’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) with gibberellins A4+7 (GA4+7) + 6-benzyIamino purine (BA) plus 1000 ppm daminozide 17 days after full bloom increased fruit set as GA4+7 + BA concentrations increased from 0 to 100 ppm, but did not alter fruit size, shape, or quality at harvest. Increased poststorage development of senescent breakdown with increasing concentration of applied GA4+7 + BA was attributable to increased occurrence of seedless fruit. Responses to treatments appeared to be due primarily to the GA4+7 component and did not occur when GA4+7 + BA combination was applied after “June drop.” Fruit flesh calcium concentration declined as GA4+7 + BA concentration increased.
Abstract
A 7-year pruning trial with ‘Redspur Delicious’ trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) compared growth and fruiting responses to 3 pruning systems: 1) trees pruned with structural limbs spaced around a central leader and 20 cm apart vertically (regularly pruned); 2) central leader trees with structural limbs in tiers and one-year-old wood headed annually (tiers and heading); and 3) trees trained as slender spindles. Heading increased shoot growth from one-year-old wood but not every year. Generally, the growth response was limited to the first 6 subapical buds behind the heading cuts. Heading reduced the number of nodes on one-year-old wood, forced some lateral buds to produce vigorous shoots, and removed the apical section of wood which was shown to be more productive than the subapical sections. Cumulative yields of the slender spindle and regularly pruned trees were comparable, and both were higher than those of trees pruned by the tiers and heading system.
`Marshall McIntosh' apple trees (Malus domestics Borkh.) on M.7A, M.26, M.9/MM.106, and M.9/MM.111 were planted at 10 locations in Massachusetts. After seven growing seasons, trees on M.7A were the largest and trees on M.26, M.9/MM.106, and M.9/MM.111 were similar in size on all sites. Trees on M.7A outyielded (1986-88) trees on the other rootstock at only three of the 10 sites. At three sites, trees on M.7A and, M.26 were similarly yield-efficient, but on all other sites trees on M.7A were the least efficient. Trees on M.9/MM.111 and M.9/MM.106 were similarly efllcient on all but two sites.
Abstract
Axillary spurs and shoots produced in 1976 by heading back or pinching shoots did not flower in 1977 on ‘Starkrimson Delicious’ and ‘Red Prince Delicious’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) Similar treatments induced flower bud initiation on shoots of ‘Cortland’ when applied in 1976 and 1977 and on ‘Red Prince Delicious’ in 1977. Late June and early July treatments were more effective for inducing flower bud initiation than were treatments applied later. The year following summer pruning total bloom and fruit set were not increased and in some instances were reduced. Pruning current season shoots of ‘Red Prince Delicious’ and ‘Cortland’ to 0.5 to 1.0 cm stubs failed to induce flower bud initiation. ‘Cortland’ produced terminal flower buds on some long axillary shoots, while weak regrowth following pruning appeared necessary for formation of terminal flower buds on axillary growth of ‘Red Prince Delicious’. Heading back most shoots on vigorous ‘Cortland’ and ‘Red Prince Delicious’ trees on June 21 or later devitalized the trees in spite of regrowth, although growth was not restricted the following year. Cultivar, tree vigor, and time and type of pruning all affected amount of regrowth.
Abstract
Incorporating high Ca lime with the soil in the planting hole for trees of ‘Sturdeespur Delicious’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) on Malling-Merton 106 rootstock increased leaf Ca for the first 2 years. Annual soil applications of NH4NO3 for 8 years, in comparison to applications of KNO3or Ca (NO3)2, increased acidity of soil to depths of 50 to 61 cm. Soil Ca levels were reduced by NH4NO3 but were not increased by Ca (NO3)2. The trees were fertilized either 1 month prior to bloom or at bloom. Time of application or N source had no appreciable influence on tree growth, leaf nutrition, yield, fruit Ca levels, bitter pit and cork spot, or internal breakdown after storage.