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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #225969
Title: Foliar boron and nickel applications reduce water-stage fruit-split of pecan

Author
item WELLS, LENNY - UNIV OF GEORGIA
item Wood, Bruce

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2008
Publication Date: 10/1/2008
Citation: Wells, L., Wood, B.W. 2008. Foliar boron and nickel applications reduce water-stage fruit-split of pecan. HortScience. 43(5):1437-1440.

Interpretive Summary: Crop loss in pecan to water-stage fruit-split is a major problem in certain commercial orchards. It was found that improving tree boron and nickel nutrition reduced the severity of this malady. Greater attention to boron and/or nickel nutrition in orchard management can reduce crop loss due to fruit-split.

Technical Abstract: Water-stage fruit-split (WSFS) is a relatively common and often major problem of certain pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] cultivars. This study evaluates the possibility that the malady can be influenced by improving tree micronutrient nutrition. Foliar sprays of boron (B) and nickel (Ni) to WSFS susceptible fruit of ‘Cape Fear’ and ‘Sumner’ are evaluated based on the possibility that either B or Ni potentially affects the severity of WSFS exhibited by trees. Although the incidence of WSFS on ‘Cape Fear’ was unaffected by micronutrient sprays, the severity of WSFS was substantially reduced in each of the three study years by foliar B application and in 2005 by foliar Ni application. Repeated foliar sprays of Ni also reduced WSFS of ‘Sumner’ fruit. These data indicate that improving either B or Ni nutrition can potentially reduce crop loss due to WSFS in certain orchard situations and provide evidence that insufficient availability of B and/or Ni to developing ovary tissues potentially predisposes developing fruit to WSFS when environmental triggers occur.