BENEFITS OF USING HIGH RATESRETAIN ON 'HONEYCRISP'

摘要

THE RIPENING TIME of popular and heavily planted apples has created a challenge and a dilemma for many growers. This is especially true in New England where 'Honeycrisp/ 'Gala/ and 'Mcintosh' ripen essentially at the same time. This has resulted in asituation that requires growers to develop a strategy to harvest high-quality apples that are capable of a good potential while minimizing prehar-vest drop potential over the harvest period.'Honeycrisp' is a low-ethylene-producing cultivar. ReTain, a plant growth regulator from Valent USA, is frequently used to delay preharvest drop, and low rates are chosen primarily to minimize the influence it may have on delaying red color development.The low rates might be restrictive in that drop may become a serious problem, especially during warm, cloudy years, and when harvest is delayed because red color may be slow to develop.