Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/489844
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER APRIL 15, 2015 35 "For most varieties, our recommenda- tion is MaxCel at 400 ppm, with no added surfactant, given in four to five applica- tions beginning at 35 inches of tree height and repeated at 10- to 14-day intervals (after 5 to 6 inches of new growth)," Cowgill said. "For Macoun, we recommend Promalin at 400 to 500 ppm plus 0.125 percent Regulaid." There was more phytotoxicity from MaxCel than from Promalin in the 2012 research. "Our later research trials concluded that surfactant should not be added to MaxCel for branching in the nursery," Cowgill said. "It is pretty clear that the additional phytotoxicity was caused by adding extra surfactant to the MaxCel, which already contains a substantial package of proprietary surfactants in the formulation." In mixing the growth regulators, Cowgill made a solution containing 500 parts per million of either MaxCel or Promalin and adding one pint per 100 gallons (0.125 percent) of the non- ionic surfactant Regulaid. Cowgill says that when using MaxCel, no additional surfactant should be added. Trees treated with Promalin were always taller than those treated with MaxCel in three years of trials. MaxCel inhibits shoot lengthening, an effect apparently countered by the gibberellic acid component in Promalin. In the orchard Many times growers do not get feath- ered trees from the nursery or they do not continue to feather the first and or second year. "MaxCel and Promalin can be used to branch 1- to 2-year-old apple trees that do not have adequate feathers with several different methods," Cowgill said. First, if there is green tissue, trees can be sprayed with MaxCel or Promalin (up to 500 ppm) to break adequate feathers. Second, if there is bare wood on the leader, trees can be notched right above the bud (right at bud swell) to induce that bud to break and generate a feather. Third, the Promalin label allows painting the buds and wood before bud break to induce feathering. Last year, Clements tested MaxCel mixed into white indoor latex paint at the labeled rate of 5,000 ppm. He applied it with a foam brush to areas where branching was desired after buds began to swell but before bud break. "It appears the latex application was very effective at breaking branches compared to the untreated trees," Clements said. The MaxCel label allows for 5,000-7,500 ppm (0.2-0.33 pint of MaxCel per pint of latex paint). • PHOTOS COURTESY OF WIN COWGILL In this branching experiment in 2012 at the Adams County Nursery Delaware location, untreated Macoun trees grew two to three branches (above right photo) while those treated four times with Promalin at 500 ppm plus Regulaid at 1 pint in 100 gallons of water branched profusely (photo above). "All of our wind machines are Orchard-Rite ." "All of our wind machines are Orchard-Rite ® ." —BOB BAILEY Orchard View Farms The Dalles, Oregon )*"()**( &)$*#* ")&&%)$*%'"* %!*( "%!)$*$&)(*#'*#)&**%)$** *#*#&*%!*( "%!)$*(&)*& "(&%') %'"*'")*'#'(&'*)('&)*")*#*$#'$* %!*#&*#& "(&$*#')!*(&*(!*'")*'#*'(&' "($*'()!*(*#*'")*)$$*#&*#'*# &#') '%!*'"#$)*(&)($* '#*'(&'*%$*&)%()* (!*$()$*) ")*$)&% )*)*)' &#* ($ ()*%! ( "%!)*)&% )*%$ &)('* ($ ()*%! ( "%!)*)&% )*%$*( $#%* #(!*") "()*'")*$()*)#) )(&*%!*(!*)(&*#' "% "*()$*%'*)($*'# #*$%!)$$*'#)'")&* ))*)*"()*(*&)(' #&%!*&)('%#!$"% $$++(!) )!())++*#% '#*&$$&' ( )+(!(+(!+)+%' ) +'#*&"%&"*" %$%'++(! ( (++**# '#*&"'&*%*$ +! )+)+%%" ) +'#*&*"'&#"$ Wind Machine Service For your nearest representative: www.orchard-rite.com Cascade