Bloom, Maturity, and Fruit Set of Pistachio in Response to Early Season Application of Ethephon
2011
Askari, Ehsan, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran | Irani, Sayareh, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran | Razmjoo, Khorshid, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Spring frost damage has been a problem in pistachio producing areas. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of ethephon application rate and date On bloom and maturity delay, fruit set, and yield of 'Kalleh-guchi' pistachio in Rafsanjan, Iran. Fourteen-year-old Whole trees were sprayed with 0, 250, 500, and 750 mgㆍL-¹ ethephon on February 10 or March 1 for single application and both dates for two applications. With increasing the application rate, timings of the initial and full bloom and the maturity were delayed by 11.2, 12.6, and 7.6 days in 2007 and 11.3, 10.7, and 5.4 days in 2008. respectively. The double spray was the most effective in delaying bloom and maturity, and in increasing yield. The double spray with 750 mgㆍL-¹ ethephon delayed initial and full bloom, and maturity by 14, 15, and 10 days in 2007 and 15, 15, and 8 days in 2008, respectively. This treatment increased the yield by about 64% in both years. It was concluded that ethephon may be applied to pistachio in late winter to delay bloom in spring without any apparent side effects, and thus to prevent spring frost damage and increase the yield.
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