Abstract
Spring frost damage has been a problem in pistachio producing areas. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of ethephon application rate and date on bloom and maturity delay, fruit set, and yield of ‘Kalleh-guchi’ pistachio in Rafsanjan, Iran. Fourteen-year-old whole trees were sprayed with 0, 250, 500, and 750 mg·L−1 ethephon on February 10 or March 1 for single application and both dates for two applications. With increasing the application rate, timings of the initial and full bloom and the maturity were delayed by 11.2, 12.6, and 7.6 days in 2007 and 11.3, 10.7, and 5.4 days in 2008, respectively. The double spray was the most effective in delaying bloom and maturity, and in increasing yield. The double spray with 750 mg·L−1 ethephon delayed initial and full bloom, and maturity by 14, 15, and 10 days in 2007 and 15, 15, and 8 days in 2008, respectively. This treatment increased the yield by about 64% in both years. It was concluded that ethephon may be applied to pistachio in late winter to delay bloom in spring without any apparent side effects, and thus to prevent spring frost damage and increase the yield.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Browne, L.T., G. Leavitt, and G. Gerdts. 1978. Delaying almond bloom with ethephon. Calf. Agr. 32:6–7.
Buban, T. and I. Turi. 1986. Delaying bloom in apricot and peach trees. Acta Hort. 192:57–63.
Coston, D.C., T.E. Elkner, and J.G. Williamson. 1986. Mode of action of chemical treatments for peach bloom delay. Acta Hort. 179: 157–162.
Crisosto, C.H., P.B. Lombard, and L.H. Fuchigami. 1989. Fall ethephon delays bloom in ‘Redhaven’ peach by delaying flower differentiation and development during dormancy. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 114: 881–884.
Dennis, F.G. 1976. Trials of ethephon and other growth regulators for delaying bloom in tree fruits. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 10: 241–245.
Durner, E.F. and T.J. Gianfagna. 1988. Fall ethephon application increase peach flower bud resistance to low-temperature stress. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 113:404–406.
Durner, E.F. and T.J. Gianfagna. 1991. Ethephon prolongs dormancy and enhances supercooling in peach flower bud. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 116:500–506.
Gianfagna, T.J. 1991. The effect of LAB173711 and ethephon on time of flowering and cold hardiness of peach flower buds. J. Plant Growth Regul. 10:191–195.
Gianfagna, T.J., R. Marini, and S. Rachmiel. 1986. Effect of ethephon and GA3 on time of flowering of peach. HortScience 21:69–70.
Herrera, M. 1986. Effect of fall application of ethephon on peach floral bud growth and development. MS Thesis, Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Irving, D.E. 1987. Fantasia, nectarine: Effects of autumn-applied ethephon on blossoming and cropping. New Zealand. J. Exp. Agr. ISC:67–76.
Krewer, G., D.S. NoSmith, J. Williamson, B. Maus, and B. Mullinix. 2005. Ethephon for bloom delay of rabbit eye southern high bush blueberries. Small Fruits Rev. 4:43–57.
Proebsting, Jr, E.L. and H.H. Mills. 1976. Ethephon increases cold hardiness of sweet cherry. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 101:31–33.
Rahemi, M. and A. Ramezanian. 2007. Potential of ethephon, NAA, NAD, and urea for thinning pistachio fruitlets. Sci. Hort. 111: 160–163.
Webster, A.D. 1984. Delaying flowering and improving the yields of Victoria plum with plant growth regulator sprays. Acta Hort. 149:197–201.
Wolpert, J.A. and L. Ferguson. 1990. Inflorescence effects of defruiting date and branch size. HortScience 25:414–421.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Askari, E., Irani, S. & Razmjoo, K. Bloom, maturity, and fruit set of pistachio in response to early season application of ethephon. Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol. 52, 29–34 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-011-0029-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-011-0029-4