Scarf Skin on ‘Rome Beauty’: Time of Origin and Influence of Fungicides and GA4+7

Abstract

Abstract ‘Rome Beauty’ apples were enclosed in perforated polyethylene bags at various times or treated with selected fungicides, GA4+7 or nutrient sprays to determine the influence on development of scarf skin. Bagging at petal fall (PF) reduced scarf on both the green and colored sides of the fruit. The longer the bags were in place, the greater the reduction in scarf skin up to 60 days after PF. Fruit weight was reduced by as little as 10-day enclosure in bags applied at PF, and the longer the period of enclosure the greater the reduction in size. Bagging explains a decrease in the scarf skin rating which is not explained by the corresponding decrease in fruit weight. Bagging 10 days after PF reduced fruit set, but bagging at PF or 20 or 30 days after PF had no influence on fruit set. Full season fungicide programs of benomyl or dikar increased the amount of scarf skin. Nutrient dips of either solubor or CaCl2 or the insecticide dimethoate had no influence on scarf skin. GA4+7 dips during the critical period for development significantly decreased scarf skin but not to the level achievable with a polyethylene bag. Fruit samples from different orchard sites differed in the level of scarf skin present.