Naphthaleneacetic acid, ethephon, and gibberellin A4 + A7 have variable effects on flesh firmness and return bloom of apple

• Published in: HortTechnology (Alexandria, Va.) Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 32 - 38
• Main Authors: McArtney, S, Unrath, D, Obermiller, J.D, Green, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: alternate bearing; apples; application timing; crop yield; cultivars; ethephon; firmness; flowering; fruit quality; fruits (plant anatomy); gibberellins; inflorescences; Malus domestica; naphthaleneacetic acid; plant growth substances; return bloom; North Carolina
• ISSN: 1063-0198; 1943-7714
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTTECH.17.1.32

Experiments were conducted in commercial apple (Malus xdomestica) orchards in the southeastern U.S. between 1998 and 2006 with the primary objective of evaluating the effects of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and ethephon on return bloom. NAA increased return bloom in six of 10 experiments, whereas ethephon increased return bloom in four of seven experiments. Four biweekly applications of 5 ppm NAA during June and July (early summer NAA) increased return bloom more consistently than fewer applications. Four weekly preharvest applications of 5 ppm NAA increased return bloom of 'Delicious' and 'Golden Delicious' as effectively as early summer applications. Combining NAA and ethephon in early summer sprays did not consistently increase return bloom compared with either material alone. The flower cluster density of 'Golden Delicious' in the year of treatment had a negative effect on return bloom that was more pronounced on control trees than trees sprayed 5 weeks after bloom with 444 ppm ethephon (48 fl oz/acre Ethrel). Combining four early summer sprays of 316 ppm ethephon (24 fl oz/acre Ethrel) with 15 ppm gibberellin A4 + A7 (GA(4+7)) increased return bloom of 'Cameo' but had no effect on return bloom of 'Mutsu'. or 'Golden Delicious'. Growth regulator treatments did not have a consistent effect on fruit firmness in the year of treatment. Naphthaleneacetic acid or ethephon treatments in the on year of a biennial bearing cycle can promote return bloom of apple spurs. However, the positive effect on return bloom may be minimal in cultivars with a strong natural tendency toward biennial bearing or when bloom or initial fruit set are heavy in the year of treatment.