Journal article
Yield responses to ethephon for unshaken and mechanically shaken macadamia
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, Vol.43(9), pp.1143-1150
2003
Abstract
Ethephon promotes fruit abscission and accelerates harvest of macadamia, Macadamia integrifolia (Proteaceae), but has limited use due to concerns that associated abscission of inner-canopy leaves may reduce subsequent yield and nut quality. Yield and quality were monitored for 2 years following ethephon application to both unshaken and mechanically shaken trees of the late-abscising cultivar, A16. Nut quality was not adversely affected in subsequent seasons, but effects on yield varied. In 3 of 6 experiments, ethephon reduced yield in the year after application. However, in 4 of the 6 experiments, 2 years of ethephon application greatly elevated yield in the third year. This was not a compensating recovery from low second-year yield, as third-year yield of trees that received only 1 ethephon treatment did not differ from yield of control trees. Ethephon-assisted harvest remains feasible for macadamia, although further work is warranted given the potential risks and considerable benefits for subsequent yield. Inner canopy defoliation, resulting from ethephon use, could represent a canopy management technique for dense-canopy fruit trees.
Details
- Title
- Yield responses to ethephon for unshaken and mechanically shaken macadamia
- Authors
- Stephen J Trueman (Author) - University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, Vol.43(9), pp.1143-1150
- Publisher
- C S I R O Publishing
- Date published
- 2003
- DOI
- 10.1071/EA02048
- ISSN
- 0816-1089; 0816-1089
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99448991102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Web Of Science research areas
- Agriculture, Multidisciplinary