Garlic extract as a novel strategy to hasten dormancy release in buds of ‘Anna’ apple trees

•“Anna” apple bud break% maximized with garlic extracts foliar application.•Garlic extracts hastened bud break and shortened flowering duration.•Bud chemical composition improved, in favor of bud break, by garlic extract.•Garlic extract plays an important role in bud release from dormancy.

A 2-season orchard trial was carried out to verify the effects of garlic extract (GE), as a novel dormancy-breaking substance, at different concentrations; 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 ml l− 1 on bud break dormancy and the metabolic alterations in buds of ‘Anna’ apple trees. Water content, total carbohydrates, reducing and total sugars, anthocyanins, total free amino acids, free proline, total indoles and free phenols were analyzed after the application of GE. The obtained results showed that, GE treatments hastened date of floral bud break and increased percentage of bud break, fruit set, total number of fruits and fruit yield per tree. Except for free phenols, GE also increased the abovementioned chemical components in buds. The best results were obtained from the treatment of 150 ml l− 1 GE. Therefore, it is concluded that the use of GE at 150 ml l− 1 could be recommended for improving the bud break, growth and yield of apple trees cv. “Anna”.