BRANCH INDUCTION OF SPUR TYPE RED DELICIOUS APPLE NURSERY TREES

Nursery trees of spur type Red Delicious apples on M2 rootstocks were sprayed with various chemicals or treated culturally to induce branching. One spray of Cytolin (BA + GA₄₊₇) at 800 ppm produced significantly more branches per tree, with good crotch angles, compared to the control. Four sequential sprays of Cytolin at 200 ppm produced a similar branching response but crotch angles were significantly reduced. M&B 25,105 significantly reduced tree growth without increased branching. Pinching the tips produced undesirable multi-leader trees. BA, Bayleton, and deleafing the tops did not induce branching.