THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND BUD TYPE ON REST COMPLETION IN 'REDHAVEN' PEACH.

Dormant 'Redhaven' peach cuttings containing flowers, lateral and terminal vegetative buds were exposed to either 7.2°, 3° or 2°C for 600, 1 340 or 2 040 hours. In general, 7.2°C was more effective in releasing buds from rest than 3° or 2°C. Terminal vegetative buds had the shortest chilling requirement and showed less differential response to the various chilling temperatures than the other bud types. 'Redhaven' flower buds had a longer chilling requirement than did lateral vegetative buds. Prolonged chilling (2 040 hrs) resulted in a decrease in the mean time to vegetative bud opening regardless of chilling temperature. However, the mean time to flower bud opening was decreased only when the buds were chilled at 7.2°C.