Performance of ‘Fuji Suprema’ apple trees treated with budbreak promoters, in São Joaquim-SC

Abstract

The application of rest breaking agents to overcome the lack of chilling is a common practice in apple orchards in southern Brazil. However, its necessity in areas of greater chilling accumulation, like in the city São Joaquim, Santa Catarina State (SC), has been questioned over the years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different budbreak promoters, on the performance of ‘Fuji Suprema’ apple trees, in the region of São Joaquim/SC. The study was performed at the Experimental Station of São Joaquim - Santa Catarina Agricultural Research and Extension Agency (EPAGRI), in the growing seasons of 2013/2014, 2014/2015, and 2015/2016. Plant material consisted of 10-year-old ‘Fuji Suprema apple trees grafted on the rootstock ‘M.9’ and arranged in a randomized complete block design with five replicates. Treatments consisted of a nutrient solution containing soluble nitrogen and calcium (NCaS), combined with either calcium nitrate or mineral oil, at different rates; and hydrogen cyanamide combined with mineral oil. The time of application was when buds were between the stages A (dormant bud) and B (swollen bud; silver tip). The influence of treatments on flowering, budbreak, yield components, and fruit quality was assessed. Flowering and fruit quality were little affected by treatments. In the other hand, the budbreak promoters consistently improved axillary budbreak in two out of three seasons.

Fertility of buds and pruning recommendation of different grapevine varieties grown in altitude regions of Santa Catarina State, Brazil

“…The climate of the region is a mesothermal humid (Cfb) according to Köppen-Geiger classification, i.e, humid subtropical, oceanic climate, without dry season, with temperate summer (Alvares et al 2014). The soil of the experimental orchard is a "Cambissolo Húmico" (Inceptisol) (Pasa et al, 2017;Pasa et al 2018).…”

Performance of ‘Maxi Gala’ apple trees as affected by budbreak promoters, in São Joaquim-SC

“…Minimum and maximum daily temperatures shortly before and after application of treatments are shown in Figure 1. The soil of the experimental orchard is a "Cambissolo Húmico" (Inceptisol) (PASA et al, 2018). Plant material consisted of 'Maxi Gala' apple trees grafted on the dwarfing rootstock 'M.9'.…”

Late summer pruning improves the quality and increases the content of functional compounds in Fuji apples

“…The average accumulation of temperatures of 7.2°C or less in the region is 900 hours. The soil of the experimental field was classified as Humic Cambisol, according to the Brazilian Soil Classification System (Alvares et al 2014, Pasa et al 2018. Figure 1 shows the data on climatic conditions, average temperature, thermal amplitude, rainfall, and hours of insolation from December to April in the three crop seasons evaluated.…”