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Issue Fruits
Volume 58, Number 3, May-June 2003
Page(s) 151 - 156
DOI 10.1051/fruits:2003003

Fruits 58 (2003) 151-156
DOI: 10.1051/fruits:2003003

`Tahiti' lime fruit set related to gibberellic acid application on out-of-season flowering and the accumulation of degree days

Marcel Bellato Spósitoa and Francisco de Assis Alves Mourão Filhob

a  Fundecitrus, CP 391, Araraquara, SP, 14801-970, Brazil
b  Departamento de Produção Vegetal, USP/ESALQ, CP 9, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil

(Received 23 August 2002; accepted 7 January 2003)

Abstract
`Tahiti' lime fruit set related to gibberellic acid application on out-of-season flowering and the accumulation of degree days. Abstract - Introduction. The production of `Tahiti' limes in southern Brazil has increased in the last 20 years and has become a good alternative for citrus growers in regions where Citrus Variegated Chlorosis has affected sweet orange groves. One of the main goals to insure success in growing `Tahiti' limes is to apply the right techniques to induce out-of-season flowering and winter fruit harvest when the fruit prices are the highest. This experiment evaluated the effects of gibberellic acid application on fruit set of `Tahiti' lime trees related to out-of-season flowering and accumulated degree days. Materials and methods. Eight-year-old plants were treated with five concentrations of gibberellic acid [ (0, 10, 25, 50 and 100) mg $\cdot$L -1] applied during anthesis of out-of-season bloom. Accumulation of degree days for fruit set and fruit development in the conditions of São Paulo State, Brazil, were calculated. The percentage of fruit set determined by weekly counts of the number of flowers from anthesis to the maturation of the fruits were determined on each previously marked branch. Data were submitted to regression analysis. Results and discussion. In regard to fruit set, it was observed that 10 mg gibberellic acid $\cdot$L -1 was enough to retain more than 10% of fruits in relation to the number of formed flowers. Starting from anthesis, (837.7 and 1 115.2) accumulated degree days were necessary for the stabilization of the fruit set and fruit maturation, respectively.

Résumé
Influence de l'acide gibbérellique et de l'accumulation des températures journalières sur la nouaison de la lime `Tahiti'. Résumé - Introduction. La production de lime `Tahiti' au sud du Brésil a augmenté ces vingt dernières années, offrant un nouveau créneau pour les producteurs dans les régions où la "chlorose variégée des agrumes", ou CVC, affecte les plantations d'oranges douces. L'un des principaux facteurs permettant de garantir le succès croissant du limettier `Tahiti' est l'application de techniques adéquates pour induire une floraison hors-saison et une récolte au cours du second semestre, au moment où les prix sont les plus hauts. Notre expérimentation a évalué la nouaison du limettier `Tahiti' en fonction de l'application d'acide gibbérellique et de la somme des températures journalières. Matériel et méthodes. Des plants âgés de 8 ans ont été traités avec cinq concentrations d'acide gibbérellique [ (0, 10, 25, 50, 100) mg $\cdot$L -1] appliquées durant le développement du fruit. Les sommes de températures diurnes ont été calculées dans les conditions de l'État de São Paulo, Brésil, vis-à-vis de la nouaison et du développement des fruits. Le pourcentage de fruits noués mesurés à partir de comptages hebdomadaires du nombre de fleurs de l'anthèse jusqu'à la maturation du fruit a été calculé pour chacune des branches préalablement marquées. Ces données ont été soumises à une analyse de régression. Résultats et discussion. Une concentration de 10 mg $\cdot$L -1 d'acide gibbérellique a été suffisante pour fixer plus de 10 % des fruits formés à partir des fleurs comptabilisées. À partir de l'anthèse, pour la stabilisation de la nouaison et de la maturation, il a fallu respectivement une somme de (837,7 et 1115,2) degrés de températures journalières.


Key words: Brazil / Citrus latifolia / flowering / fruiting / plant developmental stages / maturation / plant growth substances

Mots clés : Brésil / Citrus latifolia / floraison / fructification / stade de développement végétal / maturation / substance de croissance végétale

Correspondence and reprints: Francisco de Assis Alves Mourão Filho
    e-mail: marcel@fundecitrus.com.br

© CIRAD, EDP Sciences 2003


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