Bahar Fallahi

Influence of humic substances and nitrogen on yield, fruit quality, and leaf mineral elements of 'Early Spur Rome' apple

ABSTRACT The effects of humic substances (AgriPlus, Humi-Zyme, and Humic Acid 6%) and nitrogen (N) on growth, yield, quality, and leaf minerals in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) were studied during 1997–2000. Trees receiving medium or high N tended to be larger than trees with other treatments in 2000. Trees receiving AgriPlus with high N had higher yield than untreated control trees in 1998. Trees receiving medium N had larger fruits than control trees. Fruits of trees receiving high N (alone) had less red color than the control. Soluble solids concentrations (SSC) in fruits of all treatments were higher than those of the control at harvest in 1999. Fruit from the untreated control and low Humi-Zyme tended to be firmer than that from other treatments. The untreated control and low Humi-Zyme trees had lower leaf N and manganese (Mn), but higher leaf potassium (K) than trees under most other treatments. Leaf iron (Fe) in trees receiving medium Humi-Zyme was higher than that in the untreated control in two years. AgriPlus-treated trees showed higher water retention in the root zone.

Performance of Six Wine Grapes Under Southwest Idaho Environmental Conditions

Abstract Adaptability, yield, quality attributes, and cumulative growing degree day (GDD) requirements of ‘Barbera 02’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 02’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 04’, ‘Chardonnay 29’, ‘Merlot 01’, and ‘Sangiovese 04’ wine grapes cultivar clones (Vitis spp.) under climatic conditions of southwest Idaho (Intermountain West region, USA) were evaluated during 2000 and 2001 seasons. ‘Sangiovese 04’ had significantly higher yield than ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 02’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 04’, ‘Chardonnay 29’, and ‘Merlot 01’ in both 2000 and 2001. ‘Barbera 02’ also had relatively higher yield than many other cultivar clones. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 02’ had the lowest yield, although differences were not always significant. Other than cluster weight in 2000, no significant differences existed for yield, fruit quality attributes, or GDD requirements between the two ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ clones (’Cabernet Sauvig non 02’ and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 04). ‘Barbera 02’ and ‘Sangiovese 04’ had the largest, while ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 02’ had the smallest clusters and berries among all tested cultivar clones. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 02’ and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon 04’ had significantly greater soluble solids concentrations than ‘Chardonnay 29’ in both 2000 and 2001. ‘Chardonnay 29’, with an average of 2799 GDD, matured earlier than other grapes. ‘Sangiovese 04’ with an average of 3381 GDD days was the last grape to mature and be harvested. All tested cultivar clones can successfully be grown under conditions of this experiment.

Tree Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality, and Mineral Partitioning in 'Pacific Gala' Apple as Affected by Rootstocks and Irrigation Methods

ABSTRACT The objectives of this project were to study the influence of rootstocks and two irrigation systems on tree growth, fruit yield, quality at harvest, and mineral partitioning in ‘Pacific Gala’ apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.). The rootstocks used in this study were B.9, RN-29, Supporter 4 and G.30. The irrigation regimes were drip and sprinkler. ‘Pacific Gala’ on Supporter 4 rootstocks had 47% more developing spurs than those on RN-29 and B.9 rootstocks. Trees on Supporter 4 had 12% more total limb length than those on other rootstocks. ‘Pacific Gala’ on B.9 had 8% more shoot leaf N than those on Supporter 4 and G.30 rootstocks, and 6% more spur leaf N than those on Supporter 4 rootstocks. Trees on B.9 rootstock had 29% lower spur leaf K than those on other rootstocks. Sodium, Al, Fe, Cu, and Zn in spur leaves of ‘Pacific Gala’ were unaffected by rootstocks. The total limb length and number of developing spurs were similar for trees watered with either irrigation system. Trees receiving sprinkler irrigation had 7% more P, 6% more K and Ca in shoot leaves and 17% more leaf P, 10% more K, 5% more Ca in spur leaves. Trees receiving sprinkler irrigation had 8% more fruit color than trees receiving drip irrigation. ‘Pacific Gala’ trees receiving drip irrigation used 38% less water as compared to trees receiving sprinkler irrigation. Considering growth and quality attributes, B.9 and RN-29 were found to be desirable rootstocks for ‘Pacific Gala’ under the conditions tested. Overall, trees receiving drip irrigation produced high yield and quality fruit, while using significantly less water than those under a sprinkler system.

Long-term leaf mineral nutrition in ‘Pacific Gala’ apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) as affected by rootstock type and irrigation system during six stages of tree development

Summary Use of an efficient rootstock and irrigation system are essential to establish a high-density orchard with a high production potential. High production becomes more important as World population increases and the availability of usable agricultural land and irrigation water decrease. Rootstock vigour and irrigation method are among the most important factors that affect the uptake of mineral nutrients and thus tree growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality attributes in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). The effects of four rootstocks and two irrigation systems on leaf size and mineral nutrition, and on the interaction between leaf nutrient concentrations, growth, and fruit quality attributes were studied over 4 years in ‘Pacific Gala’ apple. Evapotranspiration (ETc)-based irrigation scheduling, adjusted for the percentage of ground shading, was used for both the sprinkler and drip irrigation systems. Leaf calcium (Ca) concentrations decreased, but leaf potassium (K) concentrations increased with increasing rootstock vigour, resulting in the highest leaf Ca, but the lowest leaf K concentrations in trees on ‘Budagovsky 9’ (B.9) dwarfing rootstock. On average, trees supplied by drip irrigation had larger fruit and higher leaf magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn), but lower leaf Ca, K, zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) concentrations than those irrigated using the sprinkler system. A significantly lower volume of water was applied to trees using drip irrigation than by sprinkler irrigation. Highlynegative correlations were found between leaf K concentrations and leaf dry weight percentages (DW%), between starch degradation pattern (SDP) and fruit firmness, between leaf K and leaf Mg concentrations, and between leaf K and leaf Mn concentrations. Highly-positive correlations existed between leaf N and leaf Fe concentrations, between fruit yields and leaf N concentrations, and among the concentrations of most leaf micro-nutrients.

Adaptation, Maturity, and Fruit Quality of Table Grapes in the Intermountain West Region of the U.S.A.

Abstract Adaptability, berry maturity and fruit quality of table grapes in the intermountain west region of the United States were studied. Average survival rates were less than 50% for vines of ‘Fantasy’, ‘Flame’, and ‘Red Globe’, but greater than 80% for vines of ‘Alborz’, ‘Concord’, ‘Concord Seedless’, ‘Delight’, ‘Einset’, NY 36095, NY 47616, NY 65.479.1, NY 65.483.2, ‘Pasargad’, ‘Reliance’, and ‘Ruby’. ‘Alborz’, ‘Flame’, and ‘Lakemont’ had heaviest clusters over several seasons. One-year data showed that ‘Emerald’, ‘Exotic’, and ‘Fiesta’ also produced heavier clusters than many other grapes. ‘Canadice’, ‘Concord Seedless’, ‘Glenora’, ‘Interlaken’, NY 65.479.1, ‘Reliance’, and ‘Romulus’ had greatest soluble solids concentrations (SSC). ‘Challenger’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Exotic’, and ‘Italia’ had heaviest berries. Overall, ‘Alborz’, ‘Pasargad’, and ‘Reliance’ had high vine survival rates and high fruit quality ratings (combination of SSC, berry weight, berry tenderness, and/or cluster size). ‘Italia’, ‘Saturn’, and ‘Emerald’ had high overall fruit quality. ‘Alborz’, ‘Pasargad’, ‘Reliance’, and perhaps ‘Italia’, ‘Emerald’, and ‘Saturn’, therefore, are suitable for planting under the conditions of this experiment.

Postharvest Fruit Quality and Growth of ‘Pacific Gala’ Apple Trees at Different Ages as Influenced by Irrigation and Rootstock

The effects of four rootstocks and two irrigation systems on tree growth, and fruit quality after storage in ‘Pacific Gala’ apple [(Malus × domestica) Borkh] were examined. Trees on ‘Budagovsky 9’ (‘B.9’) had a smaller trunk cross sectional area (TCA) and higher yield efficiency, while those on ‘Supporter4’ (‘Sup.4’) had larger TCA and lower yield efficiency than those on other rootstocks. Trees on ‘Nic.29’ (‘RN29’) had higher yield per tree as compared to those on other rootstocks. Trees on ‘RN29’ often had higher fruit weight, while trees on ‘B.9’ had lower fruit weight than did those on other rootstocks. Trees on ‘Sup.4’had lower yields and smaller fruits than those on ‘RN29’ every year. Fruits from trees on ‘B.9’ and ‘Cornell-Geneva30’ (‘CG.30’) often had higher soluble solids concentration (SSC) than other rootstocks at harvest and after storage. Fruits from trees on ‘CG.30’ also had higher fruit spoilage after storage. Trees with full sprinkler (FS) irrigation had higher TCA than those with the full drip (FD) system. ‘Gala’ fruit from trees with FS consistently had better color than those with the FD system every year.