The effect of two growth bio regulators on the physiological, phenological and qualitative parameters of peach tree production

Abstract

The risk that plants have not accumulated sufficient chilling units (CU) and the economic interest in anticipating flowering have led to growing scientific interest in the use of bio plant regulators to stop dormant peach trees in farms that use agronomic particulates in precision farming protocols. The trials were conducted in 2016 and 2017, on peach trees of the cultivar Maycrest, grown in a commercial orchard located in Metaponto, Basilicata (Southern Italy). A complete randomization experimental scheme was adopted; three theses (control, Fast and Regular® and Asy 23) and two different intervention periods have been provided for, the doses used have been 500g/hl for Fast & Regular® and 300g/hl for Asy 23. The treatments were carried out respectively at - 45 and - 35 days before the time coinciding with the first pink bloom stage. For each treatment, 20 flower buds were taken for each thesis, which were then examined under the stereomicroscope to characterize the morphology. Research has highlighted the best efficacy, as a dormancy switch, of the treatments performed 43 days after the actual time of pink button stage reached by the flower buds. (at the first pink bloom stage). From the flowering phenograms obtained, it is also evident that the treatments carried out at 43 days, i.e. at an earlier time, induced the plants to leave the dormancy earlier and enter the anthesis considerably earlier (-10 days) than the control; the flowering was also concentrated in a smaller number of days.