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.

核果类果树远缘杂交试验初报

本试验以桃、李及杏等 3种核果类果树的 8个品种为试材 ,进行了远缘杂交试验。研究结果表明 :①母本的不同花期授粉 ,坐果率差异很大 ,铃铛花期授粉坐果率显著地高于初花期授粉坐果率 ;②不同杂交组合的坐果率差异显著 ,在同一母本的杂交组合中 ,均以新世纪杏作父本的杂交组合坐果率最高 ;③中华寿桃和大石早生李进行正反交试验 ,以中华寿桃为母本 ,坐果率高 ,亲和性好 ;④杂种胚的败育从授粉后的第 5周开始 ;⑤桃×杏、李杂交亲和性与杂种败育率均较高 ,而李×桃、杏杂交亲和性差 ,但杂种败育率低。

核果类果树茎尖培养研究进展

以国内外核果类果树茎尖培养及其应用方面的文献为基础,对茎尖培养在核果类果树上的主要应用,影响核果类果树茎尖培养的主要因素进行了综述,提出目前核果类果树茎尖培养过程中存在的主要问题及有效的解决途径,分析了核果类果树试管苗的驯化移栽问题。