Effects of Prohexadione-Calcium on ‘Monroe/GF 677’ Peach Vegetative Shoot Growth, Fruit Yield and Quality

Year 2021, , 85 - 93, 01.12.2021

Melike Çetinbaş Hasan Cumhur Sarısu Sinan Butar

https://doi.org/10.16882/hortis.954288

Abstract

Prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca) is a recently developed plant growth retardant used in some fruit trees. However, it is important that the reduction of vegetative shoot growth dose not decrease yield and fruit quality. In this study, the effects of Pro-Ca applications on the vegetative growth and some fruit quality of the Monroe peach, growing on vigor rootstock (GF 677) were investigated. For this reason, trees were sprayed twice with 0 (water + surfactant), 62.5, 125, 250 g 100 L-1 water Pro-Ca in the annual shoots reached 5 cm within a three week interval in the spring of 2018 and 2019 years. Shoot length was decreased by 28-32% for shoots treated with Pro-Ca. The average internode length were significantly reduced for Pro-Ca-treated shoots. The lowest average internode length on the shoot was obtained with 125 and 250 g 100 L-1. The effects on fruit quality were positive in this study. Application of Pro-Ca (125 and 250 g 100 L-1) increased the fruit size and fruit mass of cv. Monroe’ peach. 250 g 100 L-1 Pro-Ca concentration led to firmer fruit relative to the other applications and control fruits. Two application 125 or 250 g 100 L-1 Pro-Ca applications were found more effective considering the criteria investigated. The Pro-Ca applications were found to be effective in controlling the vegetative shoot growth and fruit quality in cv. Monroe/GF-677 peach.

Keywords

Fruit firmness, Fruit size, Plant growth regulator, Prunus persica L., Shoot length

References

• Amarante, C.V.T., Silveira, J.P.G., Steffens, C.A., Freitas, S.T., Mitcham, E.J., & Miqueloto, A. (2020). Post-bloom and preharvest treatment of ‘Braeburn’ apple trees with prohexadione-calcium and GA4+7 affects vegetative growth and postharvest incidence of calcium-related physiological disorders and decay in the fruit. Scientia Horticulturae, 261:1-9.
• Başak, H. (2020). Effects of prohexadione-calcium application methods on seedlings growth and leaf pigmentation in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Erciyes University Journal of Institue of Science and Technology, 36:274-279 (in Turkish).
• Beam, J.B., Jordan, D.L., York, A.C., Bailey, J.E., Isleib, T.G., & Mckemie, T.E. (2002). Interaction of prohexadione calcium with agrichemicals applied to peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Peanut Science, 29:29–35.
• Beyazıt, S., Imrak, B., & Küden, A. (2012). Effects of tipping applications on yield and fruit quality of some peach and nectarine. Journal of Agricultural Faculty, MKU, 17:23-30 (in Turkish).
• Bilgener, K.Ş., Demirsoy, H., & Beyhan, N. (1998). Effect of paclobutrazol on vegetative growth and fruit quality of some peaches grown in Samsun. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 22:425-434 (in Turkish).
• Byers, R.E., & Yoder, K.S. (1999). Prohexadione-calcium inhibits apple, but not peach, tree growth, but has little influence on apple fruit thinning or quality. HortScience, 34:1205-1209.
• Carra, B., Spagnol, D., Abreu, E.S., Pasa, M.S., Silva, C.P., Hellwig, C.G., & Fachinello, J.C. (2017). Prohexadione calcium reduces vegetative growth and increases fruit set of ‘Smith’ pear trees, in Southern Brazil. Bragantia, Campinas, 76:360-371. Costa, G., Andreotti, C., Bucchi, F., Sabatini, E., Bazzi, C., & Malaguti, S. (2001). Prohexione-Ca (Apogee®). Growth regulation and reduced fire blight incidence in pear. HortScience, 36:931-933.
• Costa, G., Sabatini, E., Spinelli, F., Andreotti, C., Spada, G., & Mazzini, F. (2004). Prohexadione-Ca controls vegetative growth and cropping performance in pear. Acta Horticulturae, 653:127-132.
• Coston, D.C., & Gambrel, C.E. (1984). Controlling excessive peach tree terminal growth. Acta Horticulturae, 146:121-124.
• Çetinbaş, M., Butar, S., Atasay, A., İşçi, M., & Koçal, H. (2015). Reduction of apple vegetative shoot growth cv. Starkrimson Delicious/MM 111 with prohexadione calcium application does not decrease fruit quality. Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality, 88:259-263.
• Davis, T.D., Curry, E.A., & Steffens, G.L. (1991). Chemical regulation of vegetative growth. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 10:151-188.
• Davies, P.J. (2004). Plant Hormones: Biosynthesis. Signal Transduction and Action. 3rd edition. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Dordrecht. The Netherlands. 775 p.
• Duyvelshoff, C., & Cline, J.A. (2013). Ethephon and prohexadione-calcium influence the flowering, early yield, and vegetatif growth of young ‘Northern Spy’ apple trees. Scientia Horticulturae, 151:128-134.
• Einhorn, T.C., Pasa, M.S., & Turner, J. (2014). ‘D’Anjou’ pear shoot growth and return bloom, but not fruit size, are reduced by prohexadione-calcium. Hortscience, 49:180–187.
• Elfving, D.C., Lombardini, L., McFerson, J.R., Dreake, S.R., Faubion, D.F., Auvil, T.D., Ee, G.V., & Visser, D. B. (2003). Effects of directed applications of prohexadionecalcium to tops of mature pear trees on shoot growth, light penetration, pruning and fruit quality. Journal of the American Pomological Society, 57:45-57.
• Ergun, N., Çağlar, G., Özbay, N., & Ergun, M. (2007). Effects of prohexadione–calcium applications on cucumber seedlings quality and plant growth. Bahçe, 36:49-59.
• Evans, R.R., Evans, R.E., & Rademactor, W. (1997). Prohexadione-Calcium for suppression of vegetative growth in eastern apples. Acta Horticulturae, 451:663–666.
• Evans, J.R., Evans, R.R., & Regusci, C.L. (1999). Mode of action, metabolism, and uptake of BAS 125W prohexadione-calcium. HortScience, 34:1200-1201.
• FAO. 2020. The Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.fao.org/faostat. Accessed: 04 January 2021.
• Graebe, J.E. (1987). Gibberellin biosynthesis and control. A review. Annual Review of Plant Physiology, 38:419-465.
• Greene, D.W. (2008). The effect of repeat annual applications of prohexadione–calcium on fruit set, return bloom, and fruit size of apples. HortScience, 43:376–379.
• Hayashi, T., Heins, R.D., Cameron, A.C., & Carlson, W.H. (2001). Ethephon influences flowering, height, and branching of several herbaceous perennials. Scientia Horticulturae, 91:305-324.
• Hossain, S., Mizutani, F., Onguso, J.M., El-Shereif, A.R., & Rutto, K.L. (2006). Effect of summer pruning on shoot growth and fruit quality in peach trees trained as Slender Spindle Bush type. Memoirs of the Faculty of Agriculture - Ehime University, 51:9-13.
• Ilias, I.F., & Rajapakse, N. (2005). Prohexadione-calcium affects growth and flowering of petunia and impatiens grown under photoselective films. Scientia Horticulturae, 2:190-202.
• Karlovic, K., Vrsěk, I., Sĭndrak, Z., & Zĭdovec, V. (2004). Influence of growth regulators on the height and number of inflorescence shoots in the Chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Revert’. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, 69:63-66.
• Kaur, S., Gill, M.S., Gill, P.P.S., & Singh, N.P. (2020). Effect of plant bio-regulators on photosynthesis, growth and yield efficiency of pear trained on Y-trellis system. Journal of Agrometeorology, 22:140-147.
• Kim, H.Y., Lee, I.J., Hamayun, M., Kim, J.T., Won, J.G., Hwang, I.C., & Kim, K.U. (2007). Effect of prohexadione calcium on growth components and endogenous gibberellins contents of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 193:445-451.
• Kofidis, G., Giannakoula, A., & Ilias, I.F. (2008). Growth, anatomy and chlorophyll fluorescence of coriander plants (Coriandrum sativum L.) treated with prohexadione-calcium and daminozide. Acta Biologica Cracoviensia Series Botanica, 50:55-62.
• Lee, I.J., Foster, K.R., & Morgan, P.W. (1998). Photoperiod control of gibberellin levels and flowering in sorghum. Plant Physiology, 116:1003-1010.
• Mata, A.P., Val, J., & Blanco, A. (2006). Differential effects of prohexadione-calcium on red colour development in ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apples. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 81:84-88.
• Medjdoub, R., Val, J., & Blanco, A. (2004). ProhexadioneCa inhibits vegetative growth of ‘Smoothee Golden Delicious’ apple trees. Scientia Horticulturae, 101:243–253.
• Nakayama, I., Kamiya, Y., & Kobayashi, M. (1990). Effects of a plant-growth regulator. Prohexadione on the biosynthesis of gibberellins in cell-free systems derived from immature seeds. Plant and Cell Physiology, 31:1183–1190.
• Özbay, N., Ergun, N. (2015). Prohexadione calcium on the growth and quality of eggplant seedlings. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 50:932-938.
• Schupp, J.R., Robinson, T.L., Cowgill, W.P., & Compton, J.M. (2003). Effect of water conditioners and surfactants on vegetative growth control and fruit cracking of ‘Empire’ apple caused by prohexadione-calcium. HortScience, 68:101-107.
• Sugar, D., Elfing, D.C., & Mielke, E.A. (2004). Effects of prohexadione-calcium on fruit size and return bloom in pear. HortScience, 39:1305-1308.
• Treadway, Z.R. (2020). Determining the effect of prohexadione calcium growth regulator on growth and yield of peanut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)] in Mississippi. Master Thesis, Mississippi State University, USA.
• Uselis, N., Viškelis, J., Lanauskas, J., Liaudanskas, M., Janulis, V., & Kviklys, D. (2020). Effects of growth control on yield and fruit quality of the apple cultivar ‘Rubin’. Agricultural and Food Science, 29:245-252