Effects of shading and thidiazuron + oil treatment on dormancy breaking, blooming and fruit set in apricot in a warm-winter climate

Overcoming dormancy represents one of the major limitations to fruit tree production in warm areas. High temperatures during the chilling period have a negative effect on breaking of dormancy. Shading of trees reduces the incidence of radiation and the temperature. Previous works on shading did not take into account the stage of dormancy. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of shading during different periods of endodormancy, in an area having relatively warm winters, and the effects of a treatment of thidiazuron ([TDZ] N-phenyl-N-1,2,3-thiodiazol-5-il-urea) and winter oil, on apricot blooming, fruit set and ripening. The study was carried out during three years which showed marked differences regarding chilling accumulation. Autumn shading did not affect blooming or harvesting. Regarding harvest date, 2-3 days of precocity were achieved by shading during endodormancy, relative to the control. The TDZ + oil treatment increased blooming percentage, made blooming more uniform and brought forward the blooming (by 7-14 days) and ripening (3-8 days) dates. However, pistil abortion percentage was strongly increased by using TDZ and winter oil when there was low chilling accumulation, which led to reduce fruit set percentage. Shading during late endodormancy produced 5 days precocity for the harvest date in the year with lower chill accumulation. Shading of trees during endodormancy and TDZ + oil treatment could be suitable for increasing precocity in warm-winter climates. Significant year-to-year variation has been shown for blooming, pistil abortion, fruit set and fruit/bud percentages. Correlations among these variables are also discussed. Under conditions of marginal chill accumulation, the distribution of chilling during autumn and winter had an important role in the overcoming of dormancy, blooming and fruit set.