Promalin Effect on 'Imperial Gala' and 'Fuji' Apple Trees fructification

摘要

Apples from mild winter regions, such as in Southern Brazil, are small, flattened and russeted, affecting fruit quality and selling value. Experiments were carried out from 2002 to 2004 with the apple cultivars 'Imperial Gala' and 'Fuji', with the purpose of evaluating the effects of time and concentration of Promalin (GA4 + GA_7 + benzyladenine) application on apples growing in the mild winter conditions of Southern Brazil. GA4+7 + BA applied at flowering increased fruit size and reduced russeting.The data showed a strong effect of time of application on fruit set reduction. This effect tended to be less intensive in 'Fuji' than in 'Imperial Gala'. The mean fruit weight of 'Imperial Gala' and 'Fuji' was always significantly higher in the treated plots. The effects of the treatments on russeting were quite variable. However, the percentage of fruit with russeting, other than in the pedicel cavity, may be considered low in these trials.