Prohexadione-Ca Affects Vegetative Growth of the Rejuvenated Shoots in Walnut Trees
2008
Solar, Anita | Jakopic, Jerneja | Veberic, Robert | Štampar, Franci
Prohexadione-calcium (ProCa), formulated as Regalis, was tested as a vegetative growth inhibitor in rejuvenated annual shoots of 14-year-old mother trees in the 'Franquette' walnut cultivar. ProCa was applied three times during growing seasons in 2005 (Y5) and 2006 (Y6). This was during the second half of spring growth flush, the resting phase between the first and second growth flushes, and in the middle of summer growth flush. As a result, treated shoots in the upper part of the canopy were shorter than untreated ones during the whole growing season in both years. In Y5, two treatments of ProCa (250 mg·L-1), applied until the middle of June, inhibited shoot elongation during summer growth, which was the main purpose of the experiment. The reduction of shoot elongation was between 18% [lower shoots in the canopy (LS)] and 33% [upper shoots (US)]. After three ProCa applications, also the final length of the shoots was reduced by 5% (US) and 18% (LS). In Y6, when 100 mg·L-1 of ProCa had been used, strong reduction (24%) was observed only in US after two treatments. Summer growth was not reduced, probably as a result of an interaction between lower concentration of ProCa and stress caused by a water deficit and extremely high temperatures during the summer. On the base of the shoots, three treatments of ProCa (100 mg·L-1) in Y6 increased the ratio between wood and pith and, consequently, increased the quality and uniformity of the scion wood. Further research into additional cultivars and ProCa concentrations is recommended to optimize the terms of application.
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