Induction of Parthenocarpic Fruit Growth in Sour Cherry with N-substituted Phthalimide and NAA

Abstract

Abstract Parthenocarpic fruit development was induced in ‘Montmorency’ sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) with AC 94377. The biological activity of AC 94377 was increased significantly by NAA. The development (Stages I, II, III, “June drop”, ripening) of parthenocarpic fruit was similar to that of open pollinated controls except for smaller fruit size. Ovules enlarged during Stage I in AC 94377-induced parthenocarpic fruit, but lacked embryos; all ovules aborted during Stage II or III of fruit development. The primary action of NAA appeared to reduce abscission of AC 94377-treated ovaries with no significant effect on fruit size. Chemical names used: 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); N-(phenylmethyl)-1H-purin-6-amine (6-BA); 1-(3-chlorophthalimido)-cy-clohexanecarboximide (AC 94377); polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Atlox BI).