Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Western Australia, Series 4
Volume 1
Number 6 June, 1960 Article 14
1-1-1960
Hormone sprays for apricots Hormone sprays for apricots
J E L Cripps
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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Cripps, J E L (1960) "Hormone sprays for apricots," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 1: No. 6, Article 14.
Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol1/iss6/14
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Jl ormone S wraus t
for
APRICOTS
:By J. CRIPPS, B.Sc. (Hort.), Research Officer
V
ARIOUS hormone sprays have been applied to apricots with t h e object of i n - creasing fruit size a n d h a s t e n i n g m a t u r i t y , a n d of these 245TA, t h e t r i - e t h a n o l amine salt of 245 trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, has in general, proved t h e most s u c - cessful. T h e increase in fruit d i a m e t e r obtained with t h i s spray in Western Australia h a s varied between 5 a n d 15 per cent, a n d is due to a n increase in t h e size of t h e cells within t h e fruit, not to t h e production of a greater number of cells.Larger fruit is of course of a d v a n t a g e to t h e grower, b u t it is felt t h a t advanced m a t u r i t y is of greater economic a d v a n t a g e in t h e case of t h e Newcastle variety, for it h a s been observed t h a t prices for fruit fall rapidly early in the season. Therefore, if t h e crop c a n be m a r k e t e d a few days earlier, a h i g h e r r e t u r n will result a n d fruit sprayed with 245TA m a t u r e s five to seven days earlier t h a n u n s p r a y e d fruit.
The observant reader will discern a further a d v a n t a g e h e r e , in t h a t t h e harvesting of a crop of apricots c a n be spread over a longer period if only half the trees in a planting of one variety are sprayed.
Lastly h o r m o n e spraying reduces p r e - harvest drop a n d increases fruit colour, while flavour remains unaffected.
METHOD OF APPLICATION The concentration of h o r m o n e employed is largely determined by t h e tendency of fruit sprayed with high c o n c e n t r a t i o n s to split. This tendency to split varies accord- ing to variety a n d with growing conditions.
For instance, fruit of young vigorously- growing trees receiving heavy irrigation is more liable to split t h a n fruit of old trees grown u n d e r adverse conditions.
In t h e case of the variety Newcastle, a concentration of ten p a r t s per million h a s been found t o be safe provided t h a t t h e trees are not watered d u r i n g t h e t h r e e weeks before harvest. W a t e r i n g before harvest c a n incidentally result in splitting
even in t h e absence of h o r m o n e applica- tion. T h e varieties Moorpark, Tilton Trevatt a n d Royal can be sprayed a t 12£
p.p.m. but Blenheim a n d Oullins should not under any circumstances be sprayed with 245TA.
T h e correct timing of t h e spray applica- tion is i m p o r t a n t since late application reduces t h e benefit obtained a n d t h e s p r a y should be applied a t t h e commencement of pit h a r d e n i n g .
This stage in t h e development of t h e fruit can be detected by cutting a few fruit with a s h a r p knife when it will b e found t h a t , a l t h o u g h t h e pit is still soft, its pointed end at t h e base of t h e fruit fails to allow t h e passage of t h e knife.
This stage is reached approximately four weeks after full blossom w i t h t h e v a r i e t y Newcastle, a n d five to six weeks with mid season a n d late varieties.
A spreader must be included with t h e spray to give reliable results a n d a d e t e r - gent type should be utilised. Also thorough spraying is essential, a n d two to four gallons of spray per tree should be applied.
Recommendations for t h e use of 245TA on apricots m a y therefore be summarised as follows:—
(1) Apply t h e hormone a t 10 p a r t s p e r million to t h e Newcastle variety a n d 12£ p a r t s per million to o t h e r varieties.
(2) Do not spray Blenheim or Oullins with 245TA.
525
(3) Apply the spray one month after pit hardening.
Include a spreader and spray thoroughly.
After spraying, the grower will probably observe a certain amount of foliage wilt- ing coupled with a stoppage of the new growth, but these effects are only tem- porary and need not cause alarm.
In conclusion it is essential that fruit growers realise that hormone spraying cannot be employed as a substitute for thinning as it is less effective when applied
to trees carrying a very heavy crop. Thin- ning should therefore be carried out before spray application either by hand or by the spray thinning method described in a previous article published in "The Journal of Agriculture of Western Aus- tralia" Vol 8 (Third Series), No. 3 (May- June, 1959), Page 361. This article "Spray Thinning of Newcastle Apricots" was reprinted as Bulletin 2642.
Growers wishing to employ hormone sprays would be well advised to contact their local Horticultural Adviser or I n - structor for more detailed advice.
^>attu -3« J eepaqe 15 •P
af —^fn C^roiion ^rtazard
- —^/""V
The above photograph shows a salty seepage occurring on a hillside in the York district.
Such areas become bare and act as focal points for water erosion. They can often be reclaimed by adopting appropriate soil conservation measures and encouraging the growth of salt-tolerant plants, shrubs or trees suitable for these conditions. The Soil Conservation Service can advise concerning the details of this reclamation.
526
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