| The
effect of growth regulators on fruit shape and inorganic
nutrient concentration in leaves and fruit of 'Red Delicious' apples |
| D. K.
STYLIANIDIS, T. E. SOTIROPOULOS, M. A. KOUKOURIKOU, D. G.
VOYIATZIS and I. N. THERIOS |
Abstract
In this work, the effects of gibberellins, cytokinins and some of their
commercial mixtures, on fruit shape of 'Red Delicious' clones ('Royal
Red Delicious', 'Red Chief' and 'Imperial Double Red Delicious') were
studied. Quantitative determinations of nutrient elements in leaves and
fruit, and measurements of the rates of photosynthesis and transpiration,
water use efficiency, stomatal conductance and internal CO2
concentration were additionally made. Promalin, Perlan, Novagib+kinetin,
benzyladenine and kinetin improved apple shape by increasing the ratio
of fruit height/diameter and fruit fresh weight in some cases, whereas
GA3 had no effect. The effects on inorganic nutrient content
of growth regulators used varied between leaves and fruits, among
cultivars tested, among treatments and year to year. GA3 and
Perlan, but not Promalin, increased photosynthesis and transpiration
rates and stomatal conductance. Flowering of the next two years was
negatively affected by GA3 and Promalin, less so by Perlan,
but not by kinetin and benzyladenine.
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