VEGETATIVE AND FLOWERING RESPONSE OF PEACH TO MEFLUIDIDE

C.E. Arnold, J.H. Aldrich, F.G. Martin
Various cultural methods have been used in an effort to control the size of the tree canopy in order to facilitate high density planting of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cv. June Gold] trees. Pruning and chemical growth regulation have been possible control methods to tree growth. Mefluidide, [N-{2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl]amino] phenyl} acetimide] , a growth regulator, was applied to peach trees at 0, 0.24, 0.48, 0.96, and 1.92 g/liter in H2O 26 May 1978, 2 months after transplanting. The mefluidide treatments resulted in shorter, narrower trees with smaller trunks and increased axillary branching as the concentration increased. Phytotoxicity was rate-dependent and included leaf tip necrosis and epinasty. The 2 lowest rates were reapplied 21 May 1979. By September 1979, the 0.48 g/ liter treatment resulted in a shorter tree with increased lateral branching and the 1.92 g/liter rate caused increased branching. There was a trend of delayed and concentrated bud development with no effect on number of flower buds in 1980 by mefluidide treatments.
Arnold, C.E., Aldrich, J.H. and Martin, F.G. (1983). VEGETATIVE AND FLOWERING RESPONSE OF PEACH TO MEFLUIDIDE. Acta Hortic. 137, 145-152
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1983.137.15
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1983.137.15

Acta Horticulturae