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2019 Vol.32, Issue 6 Preview Page

Research Article

Leaf Thinning and Fruit Quality of ‘Hongro’/M.9 Apple Trees by Foliar Application of Cu-EDTA and Fe-EDTA
Heon-Kyu Lim1†
,
Hyunsuk Shin2†
,
In-Chang Son3
,
Youngjae Oh4
,
Keumsun Kim4
,
Sung-Il Oh5
,
Sewon Oh1
,
Daeil Kim6*
1Graduate Student, Department of Horticultural Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
2Professor, Department of Horticulture, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju 52725, Korea
3Researcher, Planning and Coordination Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
4Post-doc, Department of Horticultural Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
5Post-doc, Department of Forest Genetic Resources, Korea Forest Research Institute, Suwon 16631, Korea
6Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
* Corresponding Author
† These authors contributed equally to this work.
31 December 2019. pp. 677-682
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Abstract

Hand leaf thinning for improvement of fruit coloration and quality is one of the most labor-consuming works in Korean apple cultivation. The study was aimed at investigating whether foliar application of two chelate compounds (Cu-EDTA, Fe-EDTA) could defoliate effectively ‘Hongro’/M.9 apple leaves and enhance fruit coloration and quality. At 30 days before harvest, foliar spray with two chelate compounds defoliated significantly the apple leaves. Chelate treatments did not affect the leaf chlorophyll content. High concentration of chelates decreased drastically photosynthetic rate of true leaves, and then it stayed in low levels, whereas low levels of chelates reduced sharply the photosynthetic rate but it was gradually restored over time. Cu-EDTA regardless of its concentration triggered higher defoliation compared to Fe-EDTA. Consequently, higher defoliation improved light interception of fruits and accumulated more anthocyanin. Particularly, Cu-EDTA could target mainly fruit cluster leaves which affect directly light interception of the fruits, i.e. more selective defoliants compared to Fe-EDTA. However, 3% Cu-EDTA rather defoliated excessively, accompanying with reduction of fruit weight and soluble solids. Therefore, our results suggest that 1% Cu-EDTA which defoliates properly the fruit cluster leaves could improve coloration and quality of ‘Hongro’/M.9 apple fruits.

Keywords
Abscission
Anthocyanin
Chemical defoliation
Fruit coloration
Malus domestica
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Information
  • Publisher :The Plant Resources Society of Korea
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원식물학회
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Plant Resources
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원식물학회지
  • Volume : 32
  • No :6
  • Pages :677-682
  • Received Date : 2019-08-19
  • Revised Date : 2019-10-11
  • Accepted Date : 2019-11-13
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7732/kjpr.2019.32.6.677
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