The use of gibberellic acid to control alternate cropping of Late Valencia sweet orange

Abstract

The effect of spraying commercial gibberellic acid (GA) on alternate cropping and yield of Late Valencia orange trees was studied in detail at three sites over three seasons. Two applications of GA were applied at a minimum concentration of 25 ppm (in two experiments 0.75% emulsifiable oil was used as an adjuvant) 3 weeks apart during April and May for Dareton (on the River Murray) or June and early July for Yanco (Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas) prior to the heavy-crop blossom. These sprays partly inhibited flowering and the subsequent heavy crop was reduced by up to 22% (by fruit number). In the next season there were more flowers and the light crop was increased by up to 57% at Dareton and 228% at Yanco. Some treatments practically eliminated alternate cropping while all reduced considerably the heavyllight crop ratio. Mean weight yields over 2 years were increased by up to 17% at Yanco and 16% at Dareton with mean increases for all successful GA treatments of 12.6% and 7.2% respectively. This represented an increase of 34 and 24 kg fruitltree. No long-term adverse effects on yield were found.

Apart from re-greening of the fruit present at the time of spraying, fruit quality was not affected. There were fewer non-saleable small fruit at Yanco in the heavy crop as a result of the GA treatments, and a better range of fruit sizes in both the heavy and light crops.

Trees on Rough Lemon rootstock responded well to GA treatments, especially in terms of increased yield in the light crop. Poncirus trifoliata rootstock was less responsive than Sweet Orange.

This method might be used for the commercial control of alternate cropping of Late Valencia orange trees.