Pedicel Weight and Length Do not Affect Kiwifruit Size

• Published in: European journal of horticultural science 2006-12, Vol.71 (6), p.272-276
• Main Authors: Cruz-Castillo, J.G., Woolley, D.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Canes; Crop harvesting; Crops; Defoliation; Fruits; Inflorescences; Pedicels; Plant growth regulators; Plants; Vascular tissues
• ISSN: 1611-4426; 1611-4434

The influence of pedicel dimension on 'Hayward' kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C.F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson var. deliciosa) size was studied. Plant growth regulators and defoliations were used to manipulate pedicel weight and length. When lateral pedicels, with fruit removed, were inserted into vials filled with Agromil-Plus® (5 μl L-1 CPPU (N-(2-chloro-4-pyridy)-N′-phenylurea) plus natural bioregulators), the terminal pedicel dimensions were dramatically increased but the fruit size response (122 g) was inferior to that obtained by dipping fruit in CPPU (138 g). GA3 (100 mg L-1) supplied to the pedicel reduced the fruit weight and increased the length of terminal pedicels. ABA (50 mg L-1) did not significantly influence fruit weight or pedicel length. Fruit dipped in CPPU that additionally received a pedicel application of this compound had similar fruit weight (141 g) to that of dipped fruit but significantly greater pedicel weight. Cane defoliation initiated at bud burst produced pedicels of small size on fruit of similar fresh weight to untreated canes. The conclusion was reached that pedicel length and weight are not casually related to fruit size but conditions leading to large fruit may also produce large pedicels.