North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Mark Angermayer" <hangermayer@isp.com>]

Following is a link that discusses various forms of passive protection.

http://www.aces.edu/dept/peaches/frzpassive.html

They mention some chemicals have promise inhibiting freeze damage by
nullifying effects of ice nucleating bacteria.  Although I haven't tried it
myself, I notice KOCIDE 3000 is labeled for this.  I have tried a
cryoprotectant and as the article points out, it was a waste of money
(despite claims of the manufacturer).

The article doesn't mention painting the whole tree, but I too have read
research that spraying the whole tree w/ a 50/50 solution of white latex and
water will delay bloom about a week.

Mark
KS

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jerry
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 9:09 AM
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] delaying apricot bloom


In a message dated 1/2/2011 4:23:25 PM Eastern Standard Time,
alandhaigh@gmail.com writes:


The only research that I've seen that successfully involved white paint to
delay bloom involved painting all the wood, including the small bud wood
which I suspect is most important of all.  White paint on the trunk seems to
be mostly about protecting from southwest injury but I'm not at all sure it
would be helpful in protecting apricots from being killed by fluctuating
temps in early spring.  Show me the research!



Alan is correct. It has been reported that painting the entire tree white,
including the buds can delay bloom. I know of no research papers reporting
delay by only painting the South side and delaying root thaw.

Many trees have early sap flow, example maple. During this flow period the
sap stops at night when the temps drop below freezing. If the temp of the
root system as well as xylem and phloem can be held below the threshold of
sap flow it should delay bud expanson, delaying bloom time. This theorized
delay would not be more than a few days at most. But one or two days could
be enough to avoid frost damage in a small percentage of the flowers as the
bloom period can be more than week. The rise in spring temperatures is
different yearly, changing the effectivness yearly. Temperature variation
during the bloom period can vary the length of the period.

The possible effectivness of this would vary with species. Example:
Persimmon doesn't bloom until June in zone 5. Delaying early sap flow would
not delay flowering. Would likely not delay apple either. The best
poossiblilty would be apricot which is the species about which this question
was asked.

Theory only, not proven by test that I'm aware of. This could be the basis
for amateur apricot flowering research.

Jerry



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