The effects of Pro-Ca (prohexadione-calcium) application on tree growth and fruit characteristics of seedling and mm 106 grafted Starkrimson delicious apple cultivar

This experiment was carried out to determine that the effects of Pro Ca (prohexadione-calcium) applications on some pomological characters and that the repressive effects of Pro Ca on vegetative developments of Starkrimson Delicious apple cultivars grafted on seedling and dwarf rootstocks in Öz-Urlalı botanical nursery in Urla County, İzmir province in 2015 and 2016 years. It was searched for, in which direction, Pro-ca applications was effective. Pro-Ca applied at two different doses (250-500 ppm) at 5cm shoot length and at two weeks later that. In applications, four years old Starkrimson apple cultivars grafted on seedling and MM106 dwarf rootstocks in pots was used. In plants grafted on MM106 rootstock, tree height and average one year old shoot length differences between the beginning and the ending of vegetation, decreased as the pro-ca application doses increased. While In MM106 rootstock, Pro-ca application effects was positive, in seedling rootstocks it was not affected significantly Starkrimson apples taken trees grafted on seedlings and MM106 rootstocks did not show any differences in terms of fruit weight (g), fruit width and length (mm), fruit firmness (kg/cm2). However, Starkrimson apples taken trees grafted on seedlings had the lower total soluble solids and higher pH than that of grafted on MM106.