BREAK DORMANCY IN ‘HOUSUI’ PEAR USING GARLIC EXTRACT

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of garlic extract to induce break dormancy in pear trees under low chilling conditions an experiment was installed in a 7-year-old ‘Housui’ pear commercial orchard located in Campo Largo, PR, presenting tree spacing with 1,5 m between plants x 4,0 m between rows. The treatments were applied when plants were in the B (swollen bud) phenological stage which happened on 08/17/2008. A completely random experimental design of 6 treatments with 3 replications was used. Treatments were: 1) Control; 2) 4% Mineral Oil (MO); 3) 0.52% hydrogen cyanamide (HC) + 4% MO; 4) 1% Garlic Extract (GE) + 4% MO; 5) 2.5% GE + 4% MO; and 6) 5% GE + 4% MO. The evaluations were performed 29, 36, 43, 50 and 57 days after product application. Garlic extract exerted influence on break dormancy of the pear buds. Treatment with 5% GE + 4% MO anticipated bud burst, presented similar results to those obtained with 0.52% HC + 4% of MO. No treatment was toxic to the plants.