FRUIT CROP INCREASE

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for increasing the crop of certain fruit by applying Flurprimidol to the crop at the blooming stage. The applying of Flurprimidol is also used for attaining an earlier ripening of the fruit.

Description: FRUIT CROP INCREASE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The application of Fluφrimidol for increasing fruit crops of certain kinds of fruit. The active material is applied in one kind of crop at the blooming stage, and in another it is used for attaining an earlier ripening of the fruit, making possible earlier marketing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The compound known as Flurprimidol (alpha-l(l-methylethyl)-alpha-(4- trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)-5-pyrimidinemethanol (CUTLESS) is extensively used as growth suppression agent of a wide variety of trees, shrubs, ornamental plants, lawns, etc. The present invention relates to an entirely different application of Fluφrimidol, which gives suφrising results with agricultural crops. The yield of avocados in Israel is relatively low, around 10 MT/ha, in spite of large planted areas, big numbers of flowers per tree and special manner of planting the tress to facilitate cross pollination and fertilization. Experiments carried out with compositions of the invention dramatically increased fruitset and thus increase the numbers of fruit per tree. Persimmon fruit ripen during the autumn, and frequently rain sets in before harvesting. There are occurrences when fruit are damaged by hail and the fruit are prone to attack by Alternaria. Experiments have demonstrated that the application of compositions based on Fluφrimidol results in an earlier ripening of the fruit and a change of color which also enables early picking of the fruit. EXAMPLES I -AVOCADO 1 AVOCADO IN SASA This trial carried out to check the efficacy of CUTLESS in increasing fruitset in Avocado variety Fuerte. The Treatments Cutless 0.7% Cutless 1.0% Control-untreated Application Date April -when the trees were in full blooming stage. Spray Volume 1000 1/ha. The Results Cutless 0.7% and 1% increased the yield in comparison with the control. There was no phytotoxic damage to the trees or the fruits. 2 AVOCADO IN SHEFAIM This trial was carried out to check the efficacy of Cutless in increasing fruitset in Avocado variety Fuerte. The Treatments Cutless 0.25% Cutless 0.5% Cutless 0.75% Cutless 1.0% Control-untreated Application Date April - when the trees were in full blooming stage. Spray Volume 1000 1/ha. The Results Cutless 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1.0% increased the yield and number of fruits in comparison with the control. There was no phytotoxic damage to the trees or the fruits. 3 AVOCADO IN SHEFAIM This trial was carried out to check the efficacy of Cutless in increasing fruitset in Avocado variety Fuerte. The Treatments Cutless 0.25% Cutless 0.5% Control-untreated Application Date April - when the trees are in full blooming stage. Spray Volume 1000 1/ha. The Results Cutless 0.25% and 0.5% increased the yield in comparison with the control. There was no phytotoxic damage to the trees or the fruits. 4 AVOCADO IN EIN HACHORESH This trial was carried out to check the efficacy of Cutless in increasing fruitset in Avocado variety Fuerte. The Treatments Cutless 0.25% Cutless 0.5% Cutless 1.0% Control-untreated Application Date April - when the trees were in full blooming stage. Spray Volume 1000 1/ha. The Results Cutless 0.25%, 0.5% and 1.0% increased the yield in comparison with the control. There was no phytotoxic damage to the trees or the fruits. 5 AVOCADO IN ACKO FARM This trial carried out to check the efficacy of Cutless in increasing fruitset in Avocado variety Fuerte. The Treatments Cutless 0.1% Cutless 0.2% Cutless 0.4% Control-untreated Application Date April - when the trees were in full blooming stage. Spray volume: 1000 1/ha. The Results Cutless 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4% increased the yield in comparison with the control. There was no phytotoxic damage to the trees or the fruits. II- PERSIMMON 1 PERSIMMON IN EIN ZURIM This trial carried out to check the efficacy of Cutless in fruit ripening earliness of Persimmon fruits. Variety: Triumph, 15 years old. The Treatments Cutless 2 grams/tree Cutless 4 grams/tree Cutless 8 grams/tree Control-untreated Application Date Month of May - The product was spread under the drip irrigation system of each tree. The Results *l=green fruit, 10= orange color fruit. All the fruits from the Cutless treated trees were picked on the first picking day on 20th October. The fruits from the untreated trees were picked later on 10th November (when the fruits reached the right orange color). There was no effect of the treatments on fruit diameter or weight. There was no phytotoxic damage to the trees or the fruits. 2 PERSIMMON IN EIN ZURIM This trial carried out to check the efficacy of Cutless in fruit ripening earliness in Persimmon fruits, variety Triumph. The Treatments Cutless 2 grams/tree Cutless 4 grams/tree Cutless 8 grams/tree Control-untreated Application Date Mid-May - The product was spread under the drip irrigation system of each tree. The Results *l=green fruit, 10= orange color fruit. All the fruits from the Cutless treated trees were picking on the first picking day 20th October. The fruits from the untreated trees were picked later on 1st November to 21 November (when the fruits reached the right orpfige color). There was no phytotoxic damage to the trees or the fruits. The above description is by way of illustration only and the invention extends to the use of compositions containing as active ingredient Fluφrimidol (CUTLESS) in other different fruit trees for increasing fruit crops and to result in earlier ripening.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A composition for increasing the crop of certain fruit, comprising as active ingredient Fluφrimidol. 2. A composition according to claim 1, containing about 0.05 to about 1 per cent by weight of Fluφrimidol for spraying of avocado trees in the blooming stage, to increase fruit set and thus increase the crop. 3. A composition according to claim 1, for the application of Fluφrimidol to Persimmon fruit trees. 4. A method for enhancing avocado crops which comprises spraying avocado trees with a 0.05 to 1.0 per cent aqueous solution of Fluφrimidol at the blooming stage of the tree. 5. A method according to claim 4 where about 300 to 1500 liters per HA: are applied. 6. A method resulting in earlier ripening and color change of Parsimmon fruit which comprises applying 1 to 10 of fluφrimidal to the fruit trees. 7. A method according to claim 6, where the composition is applied by drip irrigation to the base of the tree. 8. The application of Fluφrimidol to increase fruit crop and to result in earlier fruit ripening and earlier color change to the desired riper color.

Inventors: JACOBSON RAM, TENZER SHEVACH, JACOBSON, RAM, TENZER, SHEVACH
Applicants: AGRICHEM LTD, JACOBSON RAM, TENZER SHEVACH, AGRICHEM LTD., JACOBSON, RAM, TENZER, SHEVACH
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A01N43
IPC codes: A01N43