Dormancy Breaker
Dormancy-breaking sprays as a management tool for low Chill years
The use of dormancy-breaking sprays is a potential adaptation for the apple and pear industry to warmer years as they have been shown to stimulate earlier, more homogenous bud burst and flowering in a number of crops grown in mild climates worldwide. In the 2015-16 season a trial was undertaken in ‘Gala’ apple trees at three locations (Qld, WA and Tasmania), to assess 1) the efficacy of using dormancy-breaking sprays under current Australian climates and, 2) the potential to use these sprays as an orchard management adaptation to inadequate winter chill under future Australian climates. This trial was part of the Understanding Apple and Pear production systems in a changing climate funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia.
Undertaken by Susie Murphy White, Lisa Starkie, John Sutton Heidi Parkes and Sally Bound.