New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts

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Branch induction on apple nursery trees:
effects of growth regulators and defoliation

R. K. VOLZ

The Horticulture and Food Research Institute
of New Zealand
Private Bag 1401
Havelock North, New Zealand

H. M. GIBBS

The Horticulture and Food Research Institute
of New Zealand
Old Mill Road
R D 3 Motueka, New Zealand

J. POPENOE

Department of Plant Science
West Virginia University, Morgantown
West Virginia, United States

Abstract  One-year-old apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) nursery trees of several cultivars on MM 106 and M 9a rootstock were sprayed once in early summer with benzyladenine (BA) followed by one, two, or three applications of gibberellin (GA4+7) either in 1989 or in 1990. In both years GA4+7 applied at the same time or 2 weeks after a BA spray produced more branches and more total growth than controls. In 1990, but not 1989, GA4+7 applied 2 weeks after BA stimulated more branches and more total branch length than when these chemicals were applied together. In 1990 multiple applications of GA4+7 beginning 18 days after BA sprays induced the longest branches, most total branch growth, and greatest branch crotch angles than applications involving a single GA4+7 plus BA spray. In addition in 1989, immature leaves were removed immediately beneath the growing tip on the main stem (LR) once in early summer and sprayed with or without GA4+7 2 weeks later. Leaf removal treatments did not affect branching.

Keywords  Malus domestica Borkh.; apple; branch; nursery; growth; growth regulator; leaf removal

New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1994, Vol. 22: 277-283

0114-0671/94/2203-0277 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1994

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (494K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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