FRUIT SET OF 'CONFERENCE': A SMALL DOSE OF GIBBERELLINS OR REGALIS

A good harvest is based on a good fruit set. In case of a good fruit set a reasonable harvest can still be obtained, even if there are less flower buds. In years with a smaller amount of flower buds, one wants to put to an optimal use all possibilities to obtain a good fruit set. In practice big doses of Gibberellins are often applied to solve this problem, but the outcome is not always positive. In addition this sometimes results in smaller sized fruits and less flower buds the year after. Usually there is an increase in fruit set after bloom, but often this is lost, for the most part, during June drop. However, this June drop can be reduced when Regalis (Prohexadion-Ca) is sprayed 2 to 3 weeks after full bloom. A few years ago Regalis was put on the market as a chemical growth inhibitor. However in addition to the effect on the vigour, this agent also reduces the production of ethylene.