Impacts of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid as a Late Post-Bloom Thinner on Fruit Set, Yield, and Fruit Quality in “Gala” and “Fuji” Apples

A few post-bloom thinners are available for apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and the prospects for additional thinners appear to be limited. Application of blossom thinners may present a risk of overthining in the areas where weather is less predictable. Thus, we studied the impacts of various rates of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in three strains of “Fuji” apple and different rates of ACC and one rate of Ethrel in “Buckeye Gala” apple, when fruitlet diameter was about 20 mm, on fruit set, yield and fruit quality attributes at harvest, and return bloom in southwest Idaho in the Intermountain West region, USA. In 2013, application of Ethrel at 300 mg·L-1 did not affect fruit set, fruit weight, diameter (D), length(L), or L/D ratio 34 days after application, or yield, fruit weight, color, russet, and starch degradation pattern (SDP) at harvest, while application of ACC at 150 mg·L-1 or higher reduced fruit set by 19% to 34% in “Buckeye Gala” apple. In this cultivar, application of ACC at 350 mg·L-1 significantly increased fruit weight, diameter and length 34 days after application, and increased fruit weight, color, and SDP at harvest time. Application of ACC at all rates reduced total yield per tree in “Buckeye Gala”. Application of ACC at 300 mg·L-1 significantly reduced fruit set but applications of 150 mg·L-1 or 300 mg·L-1 ACC did not affect yield or quality attributes of “Sun Fuji” apple in Sunny Slope area in 2013. Application of ACC reduced fruit set and slightly increased fruit size in “Top Export Fuji” in 2013. Application of ACC at 600 mg·L-1 significantly reduced fruit set in “Aztec Fuji” apple in 2014. Application of ACC in a season never reduced bloom density (return bloom) of the next season. Overall, we conclude that ACC is an excellent tool as a late-season post-bloom fruit thinner and can be effective when applied fruitlet diameter is about 20 mm.

Branched Secondary Alcohol Ethoxylate, Ammonium Thiosulfate, Calcium Polysulfides-Thiosulfate, and Fish Oil Effects on Blossom Thinning, Fruit Set and Quality of Peaches and Nectarines

Total crop load has an inverse relationship with fruit size, while larger fruit size is often demanded by the peach and nectarine markets. Hand-thinning is extremely expensive, and thus, crop load adjustment, using blossom thinners is a crucial practice to ensure production of commercially acceptable fruit size and yield efficiency in stone fruit. In this study, the influence of branched secondary alcohol ethoxylate (Tergitol TMN-6) and/or ammonium thiosulfate (ATS), Crocker Fish Oil (FO), and a mixture of calcium polysulfides and thiosulfate (lime sulfur) on fruit set and quality attributes in peaches (Prunus persica) and nectarines (P. persica var. nectarina) were studied. All blossom thinners reduced fruit set in “Summer Lady” peach in both 2016 and 2017. Fruit sets in “Summer Lady” peach trees with a double application of Tergitol TMN-6 at the rate of 7.5 or 10 mL ·L¯1, each rate applied at 40% and 80% bloom, were lower than those receiving the same rates of this chemical only at 80% bloom, but they were similar to those receiving a single Tergitol TMN-6 spray at 15 mL·L¯1 at 80% or 100% bloom. “Summer Lady” peach trees receiving FO at 20 mL·L¯1 plus lime sulfur at 25 mL·L¯1, once at 40% bloom and again at 80% bloom had lower fruit set as compared to Untreated Control but the fruit set was higher than those with any Tergitol-TMN-6 spray. Tergitol TMN-6 at 12 m·L¯1 at 100% bloom or 10 mL·L¯1 all stages of bloom reduced fruit set in “Zee Lady” and “Snow Giant” peaches. In “Snow Giant” peach, trees receiving Tergitol TMN-6 at all concentrations and blossom stages had significantly higher fruit weight as compared to the trees of Un-treated Control. Applications of Tergitol TMN-6 at all concentrations at 80% bloom reduced fruit set in “Red Globe” and “Elberta” peaches in Utah. ATS and FO slightly reduced fruit set in peaches but they were less effective than Tergitol TMN-6 in all cases. Overall, it is concluded that efficacy of blossom thinners depends on the rate of thinners, temperature, cultivar and stage of bloom development.

Functional Activity of Some Growth Regulators on Yield Components and Endogenous Hormones of Cowpea Plants (<i>Vigna sinensis</i>L.)

The effect of seed presoaking with different concentrations of growth bio-regulators (indole acetic acid, gibberellic acid and kinetin) on productivity and some biochemical and physiological aspects of yielded seeds of cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.) was investigated. Generally, application of growth regulators stimulated yield and yield quality of cowpea plants as compared to control plants through inducing a massive increase in number of pods/plants, seed biomass, pod length and number of seeds. In addition, results of this study showed that these growth regulators increased protein content and total soluble sugars in cowpea yielded seeds. Finally, it is evident from the present data that application of kinetin appeared to be the most effective hormone in stimulated productivity endogenous hormones and biochemical aspects in yielded seeds of cowpea plants.

Harpin Protein Influence on Fruit Quality Attributes, Ethylene, Respiration, and Minerals in Apples

The competitive global fruit market mandates production of apples with high quality attributes, particularly fruit color. Harpin Protein (Messenger®) is shown to trigger resistance to blue mold in apples, but limited information can be found on the effect of this compound on fruit quality. In this study, the impact of Harpin protein on quality attributes of four apple cultivars was studied. “Red Spur Delicious” apple fruit from trees receiving Harpin protein had significantly (about 23%) better color, earlier ethylene evolution, and higher respiration than those from untreated control trees, while their firmness was not adversely affected. Application of Harpin protein on “Red Chief Delicious” apple improved fruit color and increased fruit size in two locations, and advanced starch degradation pattern in one orchard but reduced fruit firmness in one location. Harpin protein tended (but not significantly) to improve fruit color in “Jonathan” and “Early Spur Rome” but reduced fruit size in “Jonathan” apples. Messenger® increased fruit percentage dry weight and Fe but decreased fruit Ca, Mg, K, and Zn. Improving apple fruit color by Harpin protein could have major impacts on apple industry and warrants further study.