Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture (한국환경농학회지)

The Korean Society of Environmental Agriculture (한국환경농학회)
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Effects of ATS and UREA on Flower Thinning and Fruit Growth in 'Brightwell' Rabbiteye Blueberry

'브라이트웰' 래빗아이 블루베리의 Ammonium thiosulfate와 UREA처리에 따른 적화와 과실생장 효과

  • Kim, Hong Lim (Namhae Branch, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration) ;
  • Lee, Mock-hee (Namhae Branch, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration) ;
  • Lee, Ha-Kyoung (Namhae Branch, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration) ;
  • Chung, Kyeong-Ho (Namhae Branch, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration) ;
  • Rhee, Han-Cheol (Namhae Branch, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration)
  • 김홍림 (농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 남해출장소) ;
  • 이목희 (농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 남해출장소) ;
  • 이하경 (농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 남해출장소) ;
  • 정경호 (농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 남해출장소) ;
  • 이한철 (농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 남해출장소)
  • Received : 2020.10.19
  • Accepted : 2020.11.23
  • Published : 2020.12.31
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The productivity and quality of blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) greatly depend on the number of fruits in a plant. Especially, fruit set more than appropriate number negatively affects productivity and marketability due to the increased number of small fruits and delayed harvest time. This study was conducted to investigate proper timing and concentration for applying chemical blossom thinners such as ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) and UREA. METHODS AND RESULTS: ATS at 1.25% and 1.50%, and UREA at 6% and 8% were applied in four developmental stages, bud swell, pink bud, full bloom and petal fall. Fruit thinning rate was calculated based on the number of fruits harvested divided by that of flowers before applying blossom thinners. Ratios of leaf to flower and leaf to fruit were calculated based on the number of fully developed leaves in 25 days after full blossom divided by that of flowers or fruits, respectively. Chemical injury of leaves was investigated by calculating the number of leaves with chemical injury divided by the total number of leaves. Fruit thinning rates were 48% and 66% for UREA treatments at 6% and 8%, respectively, and 49% and 62% for ATS treatments at 1.25% and 1.50%, respectively, in the full bloom stage. In the petal fall stage, fruit thinning rates were 18% and 24% for UREA treatments at 6% and 8%, respectively, and 49% and 35% for ATS treatments at 1.25% and 1.50%, respectively. Leaf to fruit ratio (L/FR) increased by 109% and 188% compared to leaf to flower ratio in ATS treatments at 1.25% and 1.50%, respectively, and L/FR increased 93 and 196% in UREA treatments at 6% and 8%, respectively, in the full bloom stage. In the petal fall stage, leaf to fruit ratio increased by 60% to 100% in ATS treatments, but did not significantly differ from the control in UREA treatments. Fruit harvest was delayed in all treatments of all developmental stages except for 1.5% ATS and 6% UREA treatments at the petal fall stage, whose fruit harvest was two or three days faster than the control. CONCLUSION: The application of ATS and UREA for blossom thinning should be in the petal fall and full bloom stages for early and late harvest, respectively. Considering chemical injury, integrated harvesting and fruit size, however, it is appropriate to apply ATS at 1.5% in the petal fall stage to increase fruit productivity and quality in blueberry.

Keywords

References

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