Artificial pollination and use of growth regulators in atemoya 'Gefner' fruits

ABSTRACT

The objective was to study the effectiveness of the growth regulator (ANA + GA3) associated or not to the application of adjuvant and artificial pollination in 'Gefner' atemoya. The experiment was conducted in the experimental orchard at Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center. The experimental design was in a randomized block, with 14 treatments, 10 repetitions and 3 flowers per plot. The highest percentages of fixed fruits were obtained with hand pollination ­ HP and 450 NAA + 1250 GA3 mg L-1 + adjuvant and HP. The use of hand pollination for 'Gefner' atemoya tree proved to be the most efficient method so far. Applying growth regulator without artificial pollination produces parthenocarpic fruits, however with high rate of abortions, and small fruits. Growth regulators together with hand pollination produces small and uneven fruits, and cause reduction in the fruits' titratable acidity. The use of adjuvant caused low fixation and toxicity to fruits, and its use is not recommended.