Search

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest fruit trees that is native to Iran and resistant to hot warm and dry climate. Excessive fruit on the tree reduces fruit size and produces fruit...

The impacts of cambium disconnection in ‘Aztec Fuji’ apple (Malus x domestica Borkh) trees on two rootstocks, each with either tall spindle (TS) or central leader with four lower main scaff...

This study was conducted to evaluate the influences of foliar spray of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and their combination on the fruit red skin color and quality attributes of ‘Red Delicious’ apple...

Fruit thinning in stone fruit is an essential but costly cultural practice. Excessive fruit load can lead to lower fruit quality and tree and branch breakage. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of foliar gibberrelic acid (GA3) sprays at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L−1 on fruit set and fruit quality of apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. Shadoo) during the following season. Applications were made in mid May and mid June at about 6 and 10 weeks after full bloom. The results showed that application of GA3 at 50 or 100 mg L−1 sprayed at mid May effectively impacted several quality attributes, including fruit weight, length, and diameter. Based on this study, application of GA could have a major potential for thinning apricots at commercial scales.

The effects of four rootstocks and two irrigation systems on tree growth, and fruit quality after storage in ‘Pacific Gala’ apple [(Malus × domestica) Borkh] were examined. Trees on ‘Budagovsky 9’ (‘B.9’) had a smaller trunk cross sectional area (TCA) and higher yield efficiency, while those on ‘Supporter4’ (‘Sup.4’) had larger TCA and lower yield efficiency than those on other rootstocks. Trees on ‘Nic.29’ (‘RN29’) had higher yield per tree as compared to those on other rootstocks. Trees on ‘RN29’ often had higher fruit weight, while trees on ‘B.9’ had lower fruit weight than did those on other rootstocks. Trees on ‘Sup.4’had lower yields and smaller fruits than those on ‘RN29’ every year. Fruits from trees on ‘B.9’ and ‘Cornell-Geneva30’ (‘CG.30’) often had higher soluble solids concentration (SSC) than other rootstocks at harvest and after storage. Fruits from trees on ‘CG.30’ also had higher fruit spoilage after storage. Trees with full sprinkler (FS) irrigation had higher TCA than those with the full...

Effects of three preharvest sprays of calcium chloride (CaCl2) on fruit quality, yield, and mineral content in ‘Asgari’ table grape (Vitis vinifera) were studied. Calcium sprays were made at rates of 0%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, and 2% w/v as T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Applications were made at fruit set, early pre-bunch closure, and late bunch closure. Fruit analyses showed that Ca partitioning in the various parts of the fruit was not proportional to the levels of Ca application. The rate of Ca accumulation in the berry during the berry development followed a sigmoid pattern in all treatments. The rate of Ca accumulation depended on both the growth phase and the level of Ca applied. The highest rate was recorded at 60 days after anthesis in the high Ca (T4) treatment. Calcium accumulation in the berry ceased after 80 days past anthesis (beginning of veraison) in all treatments, while Ca redistributed from flesh to skin during berry ripening. At the end of growing season, Ca content of rachis is almo...

The objectives of this project were to study the influence of rootstocks and two irrigation systems on tree growth, fruit yield, quality at harvest, and mineral partitioning in ‘Pacific Gala’ apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.). The rootstocks used in this study were B.9, RN-29, Supporter 4 and G.30. The irrigation regimes were drip and sprinkler. ‘Pacific Gala’ on Supporter 4 rootstocks had 47% more developing spurs than those on RN-29 and B.9 rootstocks. Trees on Supporter 4 had 12% more total limb length than those on other rootstocks. ‘Pacific Gala’ on B.9 had 8% more shoot leaf N than those on Supporter 4 and G.30 rootstocks, and 6% more spur leaf N than those on Supporter 4 rootstocks. Trees on B.9 rootstock had 29% lower spur leaf K than those on other rootstocks. Sodium, Al, Fe, Cu, and Zn in spur leaves of ‘Pacific Gala’ were unaffected by rootstocks. The total limb length and number of developing spurs were similar for trees watered with either irrigation system. Trees receiving sprink...

Different budding methods (patch, shield and chip) were compared under controlled and field conditions using different native varieties of Persian walnut (Juglans rejia L.) during June 2005, in Nieriz, Fars province, Iran. Controlling temperature and humidity in a greenhouse improved grafting success considerably in all grafting methods compared with results under field conditions. The highest success rate was obtained with patch (91.0%) followed by shield (31.1%) and chip (19.1%) budding under greenhouse conditions versus 25.0, 15.0 and 10.0% under field conditions, respectively. Similar trends were also observed for callus formation and scion growth. Patch budding showed the highest callus formation and scion growth followed by shield and chip budding under both conditions. The genotype used did not affect grafting take using shield and patch budding excluding the N3 selection which had the highest graft success using the shield budding under greenhouse conditions. The best results were obtaine...