GARLIC EXTRACT AS A BUD BREAKING PROMOTER IN JAPANESE PLUM (Prunus salicina Lindl.)

Abstract

Japanese plum cultivars usually have budbreaking problems under low chilling conditions. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of hydrogen cyanamid and garlic extract sprayed alone or combined with citrulline (winter oil), on the vegetative and floral bud break of ?Santa Rosa? Japanese plum under mild winter conditions. The results indicated that the untreated control required from 1266 to 3364 growing degree hours more than most of the treatments to obtain maximum start budbreaking. Aerial sprays of hydrogen cyanamid 0.75 %, oil 4 % + garlic extract (4 or 8 %) reduced the bud break period in about 50 % compared with the control. Treatments of oil 4 % + garlic extract at 2, 4 or 8 %, induced a higher flower bud break with 54, 57 y 61 % respectively, while hydrogen cyanamide 0.75 % and the control showed 20 and 35 %. However, hydrogen cyanamide 0.75% promoted 80 % of vegetative bud break.