Effect of different application rates of metamitron as fruitlet chemical thinner on thinning efficacy and fluorescence inhibition in Gala and Fuji apple
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Author
Gonzalez, Luis
Joaquim, Carbó
Alegre, Simo
Àvila, Gloria
Martin, Begoña
Recasens, Inmaculada
Asin, Luis
Publication date
2019-08-30ISSN
0167-6903
Abstract
Crop thinning is an important and difficult agricultural practice. Knowing the effect of the application dose of a product is a crucial element of any thinning program. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of different metamitron doses on Gala and Fuji apples applied at fruit king diameters of between 8 and 10 mm and to determine fluorescence inhibition at the different application rates. Trials were conducted over two seasons from 2015 to 2016 in apple orchards in Lleida (Spain). Photosynthesis inhibition caused by metamitron was also analysed and measured, using chlorophyll fluorescence and biexponential pharmacokinetic models. Under the trial conditions, the application of metamitron reduced final fruit set, number of fruits per tree and crop load depending on the application rate. A dose effect was observed in all yield parameters. Moreover, when metamitron showed high efficacy, there was an improvement in fruit weight, coloration and diameter. The estimated parameters A, α and B using a biexponential equation were related with final fruit set, however the period of inhibition has to be finished before prediction can be made of metamitron efficacy in the year. The fluorescence analysis showed a dose effect, with metamitron dose increasing inhibition. Additionally, the same result was also observed in the area under curve analysis, with metamitron dose reducing the area and inhibition increasing. In all yield parameters, the fluorescence and area under curve analyses showed differences between cultivars, with the inhibition caused by metamitron higher in Gala than in Fuji. Moreover, differences between years were observed. 2015 was warmer than 2016, and the higher temperatures increased the thinning efficacy of metamitron.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Accepted version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
63 - Agriculture and related sciences and techniques
Pages
28
Publisher
Springer Verlag
Is part of
Plant Growth Regulation
Citation
Gonzalez, Luis, Estanis Torres, Joaquim Carbó, Simo Alegre, Joan Bonany, Gloria Àvila, Begoña Martin, Inmaculada Recasens, and Luis Asin. 2019. "Effect Of Different Application Rates Of Metamitron As Fruitlet Chemical Thinner On Thinning Efficacy And Fluorescence Inhibition In Gala And Fuji Apple". Plant Growth Regulation 89 (3): 259-271. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1007/s10725-019-00531-0.
Grant agreement number
MICINN/Programa Nacional de Proyectos de Investigación Fundamental/RTA2012-00116-00-0/ES/Metamitrona, una nueva herramienta para optimizar el aclareo químico en frutales/
Program
Fructicultura
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2811]
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/