Use of growth regulator in apple orchards Project leader Inta Jakobija Duration 2019 - 2021 Research focus 4. Development and adaptation of technologies for obtaining high-value agricultural and forest products, as well as in veterinary medicine Source of funding National grant Project partners Daigone Ltd.farm "Ausekļi"farm "Lapenieki" Description of project The aim of research To specify the effect of plant growth regulator on the fruit yield of apple-flower bud formation. The tasks of project: To make observations and to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulatorTo prepare a summary of information about the research resultsOrganize field days and seminars for the apple growers Results Growth regulator Regalis Plus significantly reduced the growth of annual shoots. The wage savings in pruning do not necessarily cover the cost of using Regalis Plus. A stable yield increase was achieved for the cultivar `Bohemia', while for the other cultivars the effect on yield varied from year to year. For the cultivar `Bohemia' the additional yield obtained is sufficient to make the use of Regalis Plus economically viable. In practice, Regalis Plus should be used after intensive canopy renewal, when strong growth of new shoots is expected, or for cultivars where flower buds are formed mainly at the tips of the flower buds, when the use of Regalis Plus would increase yield potential.
