DORMANCY RELEASE OF 'GALA' MUTATIONS APPLE TREES WITH GARLIC EXTRACT AND MINERAL OIL

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effects of garlic extract and mineral oil on the budbreak of 'Gala' mutations apple trees. In the first trial, 'Mondial Gala' apple trees were sprayed to drip point at dormant bud stage using an air blast, with the following treatments: 1) control (untreated); 2) H 2 CN 2 0.25% + 4% MO (mineral oil); 3) 0.5% GE (garlic extract) + 3% MO; 4) 1.0% GE + 3% MO; 5) 1.5% GE + 3% MO. In the second trial in a 'Royal Gala' commercial orchard, the following treatments were sprayed, using a hand driven sprayer: 1) control (untreated); 2) 3% MO (mineral oil); 3) 0.5% GE (garlic extract) + 3% MO; 4) 1.0% GE + 3% MO; 5) 1.5% GE + 3% MO. The same experiment was carried out using natural extract garlic obtained from cold-pressing of garlic cloves and filtering. The use of garlic extract 0.5% and mineral oil 3% was effective in bud dormancy release of 'Mondial Gala' and it was analogous to the standard treatment with hydrogen cyanamide. In 'Royal Gala' apple trees all treatments showed a very poor sprouting, basically due to an atypical warm winter in this region. But, any way, the treatment 0.5% GE + 3% MO advanced bud sprouting when using the commercial product Bioalho ® , although no differences were verified at 56 DAT. When natural garlic extract was used, no differences were observed between treatments.