Effects of Pro-Ca on Vegetative and Generative Growth in ‘Golden Delicious’ Apple Trees Having Light Crop Load

Abstract

The control of the balance between generative and vegetative growth in apple production is one of the most fundamental practices. In this study, we investigated that the effect of the Pro-Ca application on vegetative and generative growth in the application year (2011) and the following years (2012 and 2013) in Golden Delicious apple trees that in the ‘off-year’ of an alternate bearing cycle. Pro-Ca reduced shoot length by 45% in the application year and by 34% in the following year compared to control. No significant differences were observed for shoot length between Pro-Ca and control treatments in the year 2013. Pro-Ca significantly inhibited shoot growth from the start of 30 days after full bloom (the third week of May) until the harvest Pro-Ca application reduced internode length by 32% in the treated year and by 28% in the following year in comparison to control. There were no significant differences between Pro-Ca and control for flower density, fruit set, crop density and yield efficiency. Although Pro-Ca application was successful in the control of vegetative growth, its effect by itself was not satisfactory in generative development.

Keywords

• Shoot development
• growth retardants
• C/N
• chlorophyll density

Golden Delicious Elmasında Yok Yılı Ağaçlarına Pro-Ca Uygulamasının Vejetatif ve Generatif Gelişime Etkileri

Öz

Elma yetiştiriciliğinde vejetatif ve generatif gelişim arasındaki dengenin kontrolü en temel ve gerekli uygulamalardan birisidir. Bu çalışmada, periyodisite döngüsünün yok yılında olan Golden Delicious elma ağaçlarına uygulanan Pro-Ca’nın (prohexadione-calcium) uygulama yılı (2011) ile sonraki yıllarda (2012-2013) generatif ve vejetatif gelişime etkileri incelenmiştir. Pro-Ca sürgün uzunluğunu kontrole kıyasla uygulama yılında %45, sonraki yılda ise %34 oranında azaltmıştır. Uygulamadan iki yıl sonrasında ise Pro-Ca ve kontrol arasındaki farklılık istatistik açıdan önemli bulunmamıştır. Pro-Ca uygulanmış sürgünlerde tam çiçeklenmeden yaklaşık 30. günden (Mayıs ayının 3. haftasından) itibaren büyüme hızı azalmış ve hasat zamanına kadar çok sınırlı bir büyüme devam etmiştir. Pro-Ca’nın sürgün uzunluğuna paralel olarak boğum arası mesafeyi uygulama yapılan yılda %32, sonraki yılda ise %28 azalttığı belirlenmiştir. Çiçek yoğunluğu, meyve tutumu, ürün yoğunluğu ve verim etkinliği gibi kriterler açısından kontrol ve Pro-Ca uygulaması arasında istatistiksel bir farklılık görülmemiştir. Pro-Ca uygulaması her ne kadar vejetatif gelişimin kontrolünde oldukça başarılı olsa da generatif gelişimde tek başına bir değişim sağlayamamıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sürgün gelişimi
• büyüme engelleyiciler
• C/N
• klorofil yoğunluğu

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