Benzyladenine and other Benzyladenine and other Chemicals for Thinning Chemicals for Thinning

‘Empire’ Apple Trees‘Empire’ Apple Trees

Diego Revilla PascualBasilio Berisa PradoManuel Palacios CallejaAndrtes Bozal Andres

Index Index

The objectThe object

Methodology of the experimentMethodology of the experiment

ResultsResults

ConclusionConclusion

The objectThe object

Benzyladenine

Benzyladenine + gibberellins

Naphthaleneacetic Acid(NAA)

Carbaryl (CB)

Vs

MethodologyMethodology

Experiment 1: Compared BA vs Experiment 1: Compared BA vs NAA. NAA. –1) Control (no treatment).1) Control (no treatment).–2) BA at 50, 100, or 150 mg active 2) BA at 50, 100, or 150 mg active

ingredient (a.i.)/liter. ingredient (a.i.)/liter. –3) NAA at 5, 10, or 15 mg a.i./liter3) NAA at 5, 10, or 15 mg a.i./liter

MethodologyMethodology

Experiment 2: Compared BA and Experiment 2: Compared BA and NAANAA –1) BA at 0, 50, 100, or 150 mg 1) BA at 0, 50, 100, or 150 mg

a.i./liter;a.i./liter;–2) NAA at 0, 5, or 10 mg a.i./liter. 2) NAA at 0, 5, or 10 mg a.i./liter. –The control (BA 0 + NAA 0) was The control (BA 0 + NAA 0) was

untreateduntreated

MethodologyMethodology

Experiment 3: Compared BA, Experiment 3: Compared BA, NAA, and CB. NAA, and CB. –1) Control (no treatment).1) Control (no treatment).–2) BA at 50 or 100 mg a.i./liter.2) BA at 50 or 100 mg a.i./liter.–3) NAA at 5 or 10 mg a.i./liter.3) NAA at 5 or 10 mg a.i./liter.–4) CB at 500 or 1000 mg a.i./liter4) CB at 500 or 1000 mg a.i./liter

MethodologyMethodology

Experiment 4: Compared BA and Experiment 4: Compared BA and PR vs. application timing. PR vs. application timing. – 1) BA 75 or 150 mg a.i./liter.1) BA 75 or 150 mg a.i./liter.– 2) PR 75 or 150 mg a.i./liter. 2) PR 75 or 150 mg a.i./liter. – BA and PR treatments were applied of BA and PR treatments were applied of

on 15 May (6 Days after flower on 15 May (6 Days after flower bloom, mean fruit diameter 3.6 ± 0.9 bloom, mean fruit diameter 3.6 ± 0.9 mm), 29 May (20 DAFB, mean fruit mm), 29 May (20 DAFB, mean fruit diameter 10.2 ± 2.4 mm), or 7 June diameter 10.2 ± 2.4 mm), or 7 June (29 DAFB, mean fruit diameter 17.1 ± (29 DAFB, mean fruit diameter 17.1 ± 3.9 mm)3.9 mm)

ResultsResults

BA consistently reduced ‘Empire’ fruit set and BA consistently reduced ‘Empire’ fruit set and increased fruit weight to the same or a greater increased fruit weight to the same or a greater extent than NAA or CBextent than NAA or CB

Effects of BA and NAA were not influenced when Effects of BA and NAA were not influenced when they were applied of together in a tank mixthey were applied of together in a tank mix

BA reduced yield in the three of four trialsBA reduced yield in the three of four trials BA treatment suggest significant improvement in BA treatment suggest significant improvement in

the fruit-size distribution in the cropthe fruit-size distribution in the crop

ResultsResults

BA applied of as a thinner stimulated increased BA applied of as a thinner stimulated increased shoot growth in three of the four trialsshoot growth in three of the four trials

BA applications at or shortly after bloom have BA applications at or shortly after bloom have been shown to stimulate lateral buds to form been shown to stimulate lateral buds to form shoots. shoots.

PR:PR:– Was not as effective as BA for thinning Was not as effective as BA for thinning – Reduced the number of seeds per fruit in two of the Reduced the number of seeds per fruit in two of the

three application three application

ConclusionConclusion

BA displayed the reliability in thinning BA displayed the reliability in thinning associated with CBassociated with CB

BA thinner responses were concentration-BA thinner responses were concentration-dependent dependent

BA has considerable promise as a thinner BA has considerable promise as a thinner for mature “Empire” apples treesfor mature “Empire” apples trees