Quantitative Chilling Enhancement and Negation in Peach Buds by High Temperatures in a Daily Cycle1

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Abstract
The effect of exposure of small peach plants (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cvs. Redhaven and Redskin) to daily fluctuating temperatures (16 hours low: 8 hours high) of 6-15°, 6-18°, 6-21° and 6-24°C was examined in comparison with continuous chilling at 4° and a non-chilled control. Even though all chilling treatments received the same amount of chilling (weighted chilling hours), good leaf bud break was obtained only in the continuous 4°, 6-15° and 6-18° treatments. No lateral leaf buds opened in the 6-21°, 6-24° or the non-chilJed controls of both cultivars. The 6-15° temperature regime was more efficient than continuous chilling in breaking bud rest on a weighted chilling hour basis. ‘Redskin’ lateral buds were shown to have a higher chilling requirement than ‘Redhaven’. Terminal buds especially of ‘Redhaven’ showed a very low chilling requirement. Treating plants with 50 or 150 mg/liter GA3 slightly advanced bud break but did not affect the level of sprouting.

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