THIDIAZURON EFFECTS ON FRUIT-SET, FRUIT-QUALITY, AND RETURN BLOOM OF APPLES

Thidiazuron (THI) applied at full bloom (EB) at 10 or 50 mg . liter(-1) thinned 'McIntosh' apples (Malus domestica Borkh,) and reduced return bloom. The same concentrations applied at 22 days after FB (DAFB) thinned excessively and inhibited return bloom even more, THI at 1, 5, or 15 mg . liter(-1) did not thin 'Empire' at FB, but when applied 18 DAFB, these concentrations achieved thinning, with 5 mg . liter(-1) reducing crop load to near ideal commercial levels. Return bloom of 'Empire' was not influenced by THI at these concentrations. THI increased fruit weight, flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration, and fruit asymmetry on 'McIntosh' and 'Empire' and reduced red pigmentation and seed count on 'McIntosh', especially when applied 22 DAFB. A FB application of CPPU and THI, each at 5 or 10 mg . liter(-1), on 'Delicious' increased the fruit length : diameter (L : D) ratio and flesh firmness (at harvest and following 26 weeks of refrigerated storage and reduced return bloom). CPPU at either 5 or 10 mg . liter(-1) increased the fruit L:D ratio more than 25 mg Promalin/liter, Chemical names used: N-phenyl-N'-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea (thidiazuron); N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea (CPPU); N-(phenylmethyl)-1H-purine-6-amine plus gibberellins A(4+7) (Promalin).