initial cost of perlite, pine bark, and rockwool growing media and their effect on the yield of ‘Quest’ pruned to three or four fruit per cluster. Materials and methods Two studies were conducted simultaneously and independently in Spring 2006 and 2007
transport-associated genes coincided with periods of rapid cell expansion ( Schlosser et al., 2008 ). Cucurbit fruit can grow extremely rapidly to produce immense fruit. Pumpkins ( Cucurbita pepo ) have been recorded in excess of 400 kg, and watermelons
). Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between marketable fruit yield or fruit quality traits vs. growth of the bitter melon plants. Results Environmental parameters. Weather conditions during the whole 2015 growing season were generally
Consumers, grocers, and distributors all want a year-round supply of fresh, high-quality berries. Repeat-fruiting cultivars are being developed as a tool to meet that demand by extending the growing season for small fruit crops. To develop markets
. Participants who responded yes to this question had a range of 1 to 45 years of experience in gardening with a mean of 26.02 years. The strength of the association between the number of hours per week reported gardening during the growing season and fruit and
Greenhouse and field-grown `Seyval blanc' grapevines (Vitis sp.) were grown with low-growing, shallow-rooted, mat-forming, ornamental perennial groundcovers, and the effect of the groundcovers on the vegetative and fruiting growth of the grapevines was evaluated. The groundcovers used in this experiment were `Kentucky-31' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea); white mazus (Mazus japoonicus albus); english pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium); dwarf creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum minus); strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum); `Heavenly Blue' veronica (Veronica prostrata `Heavenly Blue'); and a companion grass mixture of 75% perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and 25% red fescue (Festuca rubra). A control treatment grown without any groundcover was also used in both the greenhouse and field experiments. All of the groundcovers reduced `Seyval blanc' total shoot length from 22% to 85% in the vineyard. Cluster size was reduced in the field from 7% to 68% by the groundcovers compared to the herbicide control treatment, and from 9% to 66% in the greenhouse experiment, but none of the groundcovers in either the greenhouse or field experiments affected the pH, total acidity, or soluble solids concentrations of the `Seyval blanc' juice. English pennyroyal was the only groundcover that reduced in the leaf area of the grapevine. Single-leaf photosynthesis of the `Seyval blanc' grapevines in the field experiment was reduced by all groundcovers except mazus and creeping thyme. Water infiltration rates were 10 to 50 times higher in the groundcovers compared to the bare soil of the herbicide control treatment. Weed growth in the field caused reduction in shoot length similar to the most competitive groundcovers. Weed growth was reduced in the early season by the english pennyroyal and companion grass, and in the late season by all groundcovers. The reduction in growth of the grapevines caused by groundcovers in the greenhouse was a reasonable screen for the affect of groundcovers in the field. The mazus treatment was the only groundcover in our experiments that coupled fast growth with low competitive ability.
Abstract
Dates of rest completion are rarely available for determining the chill unit and growing degree hour requirements of deciduous fruit trees. A statistical process has been developed which permits these constants to be determined from temperature data and dates of full bloom. Bloom dates calculated from the model using the statistically derived constants compare favorably with observed dates of full bloom.
Fruit color of `Sensation' and `Max' Red Bartlett pears was analyzed once at mid-season and three times during later stages of fruit maturity with a Minolta CR-200b portable colorimeter. Color measurements were taken on sun-exposed and shaded fruit surfaces in three different growing locations in Oregon. Color change is nearly constant over time during fruit maturation. Both cultivars gained red and yellow on sun-exposed fruit surfaces, and lost red but gained yellow on shaded surfaces. `Sensation' gained red on sun-exposed surfaces to a greater extent than did `Max' at all locations. `Max' gained more yellow and lost more red on shaded surfaces than did `Sensation'. Differences between cultivars and locations were greater on shaded than on sun-exposed fruit surfaces. Greatest gain in both red and yellow on sun-exposed surfaces was associated with the warmest growing location. Visually perceived color change with maturity appears to be due both to loss of red on shaded surfaces and gain of yellow on all surfaces.
A simulation model for determining flower bud phenological stages and fruit growth as a function of daily maximum and minimum temperatures was developed for `Montmorency' sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.). The models were developed and tested with observations collected in the three major sour cherry production areas in Michigan located in northwestern, western central, and southwestern sections of the lower peninsula. Observations of flower bud phenology and fruit diameter were collected at 3- to 7-day intervals, in spurs and terminal shoots across multiple years. Nonlinear equations using accumulation of growing degree-days (base 4 °C) as an independent variable were fitted to observed flower bud phenological stages and fruit diameter, expressed as percentage of final fruit diameter. Simulated bud phenology stages were in agreement with observed data. Mean differences of simulated vs. observed dates of early phenological stages in the three production areas were between 4 and 1 days for side green and near 0 days for tight cluster, while during later stages (e.g., first bloom and full bloom) mean differences ranged from -2 to 0 days. Means differences of predicted fruit diameter were in the range of 0 to -3 days. Needing only daily temperature data, these simulation models have potential applicability in improving the timing and efficiency of management decisions related to crop phenology, such as pest control, fertilization, and irrigation.