All Issue

2022 Vol.40, Issue 3

Research Article

Effects of Bloom Thinning with Lime Sulfur on Fruit Set, Yield, and Fruit Quality Attributes of ‘RubyS’ Apples
Nay Myo Win1
,
Dongyong Lee1
,
Juhyeon Park1
,
Yang-Yik Song1
,
Young Sik Cho1
,
Youngsuk Lee1
,
Moo-Yong Park1
,
Hun Joong Kweon1
,
In-Kyu Kang2
,
Jong-Chul Nam1*
1Apple Research Institute, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Gunwi 39000, Korea
2Department of Horticultural Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
*Corresponding Author
30 June 2022. pp. 253-260
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

Bloom thinning is an important practice that influences the profitability of the orchard. Hence, we assessed the effect of chemical bloom thinning on thinning efficiency and fruit quality of ‘RubyS’ apples. Lime sulfur was applied as a bloom thinning agent at 1, 1 + 3, and 2 + 4 days after full bloom (DAFB), and non-bloom thinning trees were used as controls. Compared to the control and bloom thinning treatments at 1 DAFB and 2 + 4 DAFB, the application of bloom thinning at 1 + 3 DAFB greatly decreased the number of fruits per cluster in both terminal and lateral flowers. Although the application of bloom thinning at 2 + 4 DAFB decreased the number of fruits per cluster in the terminal flower, it did not affect the number of fruits per cluster in the lateral flower when compared to the control. At harvest, the number of fruits per tree (fruits/ tree) and yield (kg/ tree) was significantly higher in control trees than in bloom-thinned trees. However, fruit quality attributes including fruit weight and size, flesh firmness, soluble solids content, area of red-blushed surface, and a* value in the fruit were significantly improved by bloom thinning at 1 + 3 DAFB. Therefore, this study suggested that applying bloom thinning at 1 + 3 DAFB could serve as an effective thinning treatment to manage crop load in trees and improve the quality of ‘RubyS’ apple fruits.

Keywords
fruit color
fruit size
fruit weight
lateral flowers
terminal flowers
References
1
Allen WC, Kon T, Sherif SM (2021) Evaluation of blossom thinning spray timing strategies in apple. Horticulturae 7:308. doi:10.3390/horticulturae7090308 10.3390/horticulturae7090308
2
Allen WC, Sherif SM (2019) Chemical blossom thinning in Virginia apple orchards. V A Coop Ext Bul, 1-2. Available via https://ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/spes/spes-110/SPES-110.pdf Accessed 11 February 2019
3
Bayers RE, Carbaugh DH (1991) Effect of chemical thinning sprays on apple fruit set. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 1: 41-48. doi:10.21273/HORTTECH.1.1.41 10.21273/HORTTECH.1.1.41
4
Bayers RE, Carbaugh DH (2002) Effects of thinning time on yield, fruit size, and return bloom of 'York' and 'Golden Delicious' apple trees. J Tree Fruit Produc 3:55-63. doi:10.1300/J072v03n01_05 10.1300/J072v03n01_05
5
Bertschinger L, Weibel F, Stadtler W, Schmid A, Hohn H, Evequoz C, Pfammatter W (2000) Thinning procedures for regulating apple fruit quality and yield. Pro 13th Int IFIAM SCI Conf, Basel, Switzerland, pp 28-31
6
Blanpied GD, Silsby KJ (1992) Predicting harvest date window for apples. Cornell Coop Ext 221:1-12. Available via https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/3299. Assessed July 1992
7
Chun IJ, Zheng WW, Choi C, Song YY, Kwang IK, Hirst P (2012) Multiple application of lime sulfur for fruit thinning of 'Fuji' and 'Hongro' apple trees. J Bio-Environ Control 21:445-451. doi:10.12791/KSBEC.2012.21.4.445 10.12791/KSBEC.2012.21.4.445
8
Costa G (2016) Two decades of activity of the 'Fruit Chemical Thinning' working group of the EUFRIN network. Acta Hortic 1138:1-7. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1138.1 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1138.1
9
Dennis FGJ (2000) The history of fruit thinning. Plant Growth Regul 31:1-16. doi:10.1023/A:1006330009160 10.1023/A:1006330009160
10
Doerflinger FC, Miller WB, Nock JF, Watkins CB (2015) Relationship between starch pattern indices and starch concentrations in the four apple cultivars. Postharv Biol Technol 110:86-95. doi:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2015.07.012 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2015.07.012
11
Fallahi E, Greene DW (2010) The impact of blossom and postbloom thinners on fruit set and fruit quality in apples and stone fruits. Acta Hortic 884:179-187. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.884.20 10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.884.20
12
Fruk M, Vukovic M, Jatoi MA, Fruk G, Buhin J, Jemric T (2017) Timing and rates of NAA as blossom and fruitlet chemical thinner of apple cv. Braeburn. Emirates J Food Agric 29:156-162. doi:10.9755/ejfa.2016-07-910 10.9755/ejfa.2016-07-910
13
Guak S, Kim EJ, Kook JR, Choi DG (2009) MaxCel® as a postbloom thinner for 'Hongro' and 'Fuji' apples. Hortic Environ Biotechnol 50:181-187
14
Guak S, Looney NE, Beulah M (2004) Thinning of Fuji and Gala apple with lime sulfur and other chemicals. Acta Hortic 636:339-346. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.636.41 10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.636.41
15
Harker FR, Kupferman EM, Marin AB, Gunson FA, Triggs CM (2008) Eating quality standards for apples based on preferences. Postharv Biol Technol 50:70-78. doi:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2008.03.020 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2008.03.020
16
He J, Giusti MM (2010) Anthocyanin: natural colorants with health-promoting properties. Annu Rev Food Sci Technol 1:163-187. doi:10.1146/annurev.food.080708.100754 10.1146/annurev.food.080708.10075422129334
17
Hehnen D, Hanrahan I, Lewis K, McFerson J, Blanke M (2012) Mechanical flower thinning improves fruit quality of apples and promotes consistent bearing. Sci Hortic 134:241-244. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2011.11.011 10.1016/j.scienta.2011.11.011
18
Jones KM, Bound SA, Oakford MJ (1992) Identifying the optimum thinning time for 'Red Fuji' apples. J Hortic Sci 67:685-694. doi:10.1080/00221589.1992.11516299 10.1080/00221589.1992.11516299
19
Kamiab F, Rasouli P, ZamaniBahramabadi E (2020) Application of some bloom thinning techniques to overcome alternate bearing in pistachio (Pistaciavera L.). Hortic Environ Biotechnol 61:31-39. doi:10.1007/s13580-019-00187-9 10.1007/s13580-019-00187-9
20
Kwon SI, Kim JH, Kim SA, Kwon YS, Lee J (2019) 'RubyS', a small apple. HortScience 54:2067-2069. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI14003-19 10.21273/HORTSCI14003-19
21
Link H (2000) Significance of flower and fruit thinning on fruit quality. Plant Growth Regul 31:17-26. doi:10.1023/A:1006334110068 10.1023/A:1006334110068
22
Lordan J, Alins G, Avila G, Torres E, Carbo J, Bonany J, Alegre S (2018) Screening of eco-friendly thinning agents and adjusting mechanical thinning on 'Gala', 'Golden Delicious' and 'Fuji' apple trees. Sci Hortic 239:141-155. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2018.05.027 10.1016/j.scienta.2018.05.027
23
McArtney S, White M, Latter I, Campbell J (2004) Individual and combined effects of shading and thinning chemicals on abscission and dry-matter accumulation of 'Royal Gala' apple fruit. J Hortic Sci Biotechnol 79:441-448. doi:10.1080/14620316.2004.11511787 10.1080/14620316.2004.11511787
24
Peck GM, Combs LD, Delong CN, Yoder KS (2016) Precision apple flower thinning using organically approved chemicals. Acta Hortic 1137:47-52. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1137.7 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1137.7
25
Peck GM, Delong CN, Combs LD, Yoder KS (2017) Managing apple crop load and diseases with bloom thinning applications in an organically managed 'Honeycrisp'/MM.111' orchard. HortScience 52:377-381. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI11412-16 10.21273/HORTSCI11412-16
26
Robinson TL, Lopez S (2009) Crop load and nutrition affect Honeycrisp apple quality. NY Fruit Q 17:24-28
27
Schmidt TR, Auvil TD, Castillo HF, McFerson JR (2011) Crop load management of tree fruits in the Pacific Northwest of USA. Acta Hortic 903:759-766. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.903.105 10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.903.105
28
Schupp JR, Kon TM (2019) Apple crop load management: Blossom thinning apples with lime sulfur. Penn State Coop Ext Bul ART-770:1-8. Available via https://extension.psu.edu/apple-crop-load-management-blossom-thinning-apples-with-lime-sulfur. Accessed 26 March 2019
29
Serra S, Leisso R, Giordani L, Kalcsits L, Musacchi S (2016) Crop load influences fruit quality, nutritional balance, and return bloom in 'Honeycrisp' apple. HortScience 51:236-244. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI.51.3.236 10.21273/HORTSCI.51.3.236
30
Shin HW, Kim GH, Choi C (2019) Effects of plant growth regulators and floral cluster thinning on fruit quality of 'Shine Muscat' grape. Hortic Sci Technol 37:678-686. doi:10.7235/HORT.20190068 10.7235/HORT.20190068
31
Stopar M (2004) Thinning of flowers-fruitlets in organic apple production. J Fruit Ornam Plant Res 12:77-83
32
Stopar M, Lokar V (2003) The effect of ethephon, NAA, BA and their combinations on thinning intensity of 'Summerred' apples. J Central Euro Agric 4:399-404
33
Stover E, Fargione M, Risio R, Yang X, Robinson T (2001) Fruit weight, crop load, and return bloom of 'Empire' apple following thinning with 6-Benzyladenine and NAA at several physiological stages. HortScience 36:1077-1081. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI.36.3.1077 10.21273/HORTSCI.36.6.1077
34
Takos AM, Jaffe FW, Jacob SR, Bogs J, Robinsoon SP, Walker AR (2006) Light-induced expression of a MYB gene regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in red apples. Plant Physiol 142:1216-1232. doi:10.1104/pp.106.088104 10.1104/pp.106.08810417012405PMC1630764
35
Tromp J (2000) Flower-bud formation in pome fruits as affected by fruit thinning. Plant Growth Regul 31:27-34. doi:10.1023/A:1006342328724 10.1023/A:1006342328724
36
Win NM, Yoo J, Kwon SI, Watkins CB, Kang IK (2019) Characterization of fruit quality attributes and cell wall metabolism in 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP)-treated 'Summer King' and 'Green Ball' apples during cold storage. Front Plant Sci 10:1513. doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.01513 10.3389/fpls.2019.0151331824539PMC6882424
37
Yoder KS, Peck GM, Combs LD, Byers RE (2013) Using a pollen tube growth model to improve bloom thinning for organic production. Acta Hortic 1001:207-214. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1001.23 10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1001.23
38
Yoder KS, Yuan R, Combs LD, Byers RE, McFerson JR, Schmidt TR (2009) Effects of temperature and the combination of liquid lime sulfur and fish oil on pollen germination, pollen tube growth, and fruit set in apples. HortScience 44:1277-1283. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI.44.5.1277 10.21273/HORTSCI.44.5.1277
39
Yoo J, Kang BK, Kim DH, Lee J, Lee DH, Kweon HJ, Choi IM, Jung HY, Choung MG, et al. (2016) Effect of flower and fruit thinner on fruit set and fruit quality of 'Gamhong' apples. Korean J Hortic Sci Technol 34:24-31. doi:10.12972/kjhst.20160006 10.12972/kjhst.20160006
40
Yoo J, Kwon JG, Cho YJ, Jung HY, Kim WS, Kang IK (2019) Effects of octyl alcohol treatments on fruit set and fruit quality attributes in 'Fuji' apples. Hortic Sci Technol 37:455-462. doi:10.7235/HORT.20190046 10.7235/HORT.20190046
41
Yuan R (2007) Effects of temperature on fruit thinning with ethephon in 'Golden Delicious' apples. Sci Hortic 113:8-12. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2007.01.005 10.1016/j.scienta.2007.01.005
Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Volume : 40
  • No :3
  • Pages :253-260
  • Received Date : 2022-02-03
  • Revised Date : 2022-03-04
  • Accepted Date : 2022-03-31
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20220024
Journal Informaiton Horticultural Science and Technology Horticultural Science and Technology
Online Submission
  • scopus
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close