New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science
abstracts
Effect of shading and paclobutrazol during dormancy on apricot (Prunus
armeniaca) productivity
D. Ruiz
J. Egea
P. Martínez-Gómez
Departamento de Mejora Vegetal
CEBAS-CSIC
P.O. Box 164
E-30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
email: pmartinez@cebas.csic.es
Abstract Shading all or parts of trees and the application
of paclobutrazol during the dormant season, were studied as strategies to improve
apricot (Prunus armeniaca) fruitfulness. Shading the whole tree reduced
flower bud abscission, probably because of a decreased level of gibberellins
resulting from a reduction of temperature in the shaded trees. Partial shading
of individual branches did not reduce percentage of flower bud abscission compared
to unshaded branches. Shading also accelerated ovule maturity at anthesis.
These results show the importance of solar radiation on the basic structure
of the tree (the trunk and primary branches) for the productive behaviour of
apricot. Paclobutrazol treatments did not significantly influence flower bud
drop and fruit set on apricot during the 2 years of the study. However, these
treatments slightly accelerated ovule maturity at anthesis, probably because
of the reduction in the level of gibberellins.
Keywords Prunus; gibberellins; fruitfulness; bud drop;
ovule development
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2005, Vol. 33:
399–406
0014–0671/05/3304–0399 © The Royal
Society of New Zealand 2005
H05055; Online publication date 9 November 2005
Received 18 May 2005; accepted 29 July 2005
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