Annals Of Agric. Sc., Moshtohor, Vol 35(3): 1649-1668, (1997)
IMPROVED LEAF/FRUIT RATIO, YIELD AND QUALITY OF ANNA
APPLE BY SOME GA3 AND PROMALIN TREATMENTS
BY
Atawia, A. A. R.
Dept. of Hort. Fac. of Agric. at Moshtohor, Zagazig University Benha Branch
ABSTRACT
In 1995 and 1996 Anna apple trees were foliar sprayed with GA3 (150 or 300 ppm), promalin (50 or 100 ppm) or (GA3 at 150 ppm + promalin at 50 ppm). The trees were sprayed at petal fall stage or on June 1st. Petal fall treatments, particularly promalin at 100 ppm and (GA3 at 150 ppm + promalin at 50 ppm) tended to increase the leaf surface area, number of harvested fruits and the yield/tree in comparison with the control, while moderately decreased leaf/fruit ratio. Meanwhile, early June application, particularly (GA3 at 150 ppm + promalin at 50 ppm) obviously improved leaf surface area, leaf/fruit ratio and the yield/tree as well as fruit weight, while moderately increased number of harvested fruits/ tree over the control.
After 18 days fruits storage at room temperature clarified that early June treatments of promalin (50 & 100 ppm) and (GA3 150 ppm + promalin 50 ppm ) caused highly significant losses in weight and firmness of fruits, while (GA3 150 ppm + promalin 50 ppm ) caused highly significant increase in total soluble solids and total sugars percentages.
ISSN 1110-0419
Samples of developing buds were taken at monthly intervals from March 1995 to February 1996 from trees sprayed with (GA3 150 ppm + promalin 50 ppm ) and from control trees. Examination of the sampled buds showed that GA3 and promalin treatment gave only 40% fruitful buds in Feb. 1996, against 50% for the control. Moreover, GA3 and promalin moderately delayed the process of flower bud differentiation compared to control buds. In addition, flower bud differentiation passed by eight stages started with: vegetative or dome shape apex (1), flower primordia (2), sepal primordia (3), petal primordia (4), stamen primordia (5), pistil primordia (6), full development of floral parts (7) and finally (8), differentiation of pollen grains and ovules.
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