Bio-regulators improve fruit size and c olour and reduce crop-load and annual bearing of Honeycrisp™ apples

Abstract

Honeycrisp™ [Malus × domestica (L.) Borkh.] can be a very profitable cultivar if fruit quality is high. Some crop-load bio-regulators were evaluated for improving fruit quality and annual flowering. Ammonium thiosulphate applied at full bloom reduced crop-load, increased fruit weight, fruit colour and return bloom. Fruitone N® combined with Sevin XLR® reduced the percent of fruit in the 40–60% colour category and also crop-load. Fruitone N® alone reduced crop-load. Key words: Honeycrisp™, fruit thinning, crop-load, return bloom