1995 YIELD TRIAL RESULTS on APPLE & PEAR ORCHARDS
Highland Court Farm, Bridge near Canterbury, Kent, England.
*(Follow-up to the article "STRESS - and How You Can Beat It!" from
"THE FRUIT GROWER," published in England, 10/95, pg. 11-12 by:John Gilbert)
CONFERENCE PEARS:
Spray date: 23/2/95 (Bud Burst) 3 pints in 23 gal/acre.
20/3/95 2 pints in 20 gal/acre.
04/4/95 2 pints in 30 gal/acre.
Anti-Stress Rows: 531 x 30 lbs boxes/acre.
Untreated Rows: 390 x 30 lbs boxes/acre.
Anti-Stress yields 36% increase over control.
COX, ORANGE, PIPPIN APPLES:
Plot #1:
Spray date: 03/4/95 (MILD) 3 pints in 30 gal/acre.
13/4/95 (COLD) 3 pints in 30 gal/acre.
Anti-Stress Rows: 550 x 30 lbs boxes/acre.
Untreated Rows: 425 x 30 lbs boxes/acre.
Anti-Stress yields 29.5% increase over control.
Plot #2:
Spray date: 31/3/95 (MILD) 3 pints in 30 gal/acre.
13/4/95 (COLD) 3 pints in 30 gal/acre.
Anti-Stress Rows: 650 x 30 lbs boxes/acre.
Untreated Rows: 512 x 30 lbs boxes/acre.
Anti-Stress yields 27% increase over control.
Plot #3:
Spray date: 31/3/95 (MILD) 3 pints in 30 gal/acre.
13/4/95 (COLD) 3 pints in 30 gal/acre.
Anti-Stress Rows: 676 x 30 lbs boxes/acre.
Untreated Rows: 585 x 30 lbs boxes/acre.
Anti-Stress yields 15.6% increase over control.
(Higher yields from both treated and untreated trees
suggests that this orchard enjoyed better conditions in 1995,
or is generally more fruitful for unknown reasons.)
UK Measurements above use the GALLON and PINT (8 Pints = 1 Gallon.)
The conversion is as follows:
1 gallon = 4.546 litres
1 pint = 0.568 litres
1 acre = 0.4 hectares
The dilutions used above are in the following ratios:
ANTI-STRESS + WATER = RATIO
3 pints to 25 gallons = 1:66
2 pints to 20 gallons = 1:80
2 pints to 30 gallons = 1:120
3 pints to 30 gallons = 1:80
1994 TISSUE-CULTURE TRIALS on WALNUT PLANTLETS
University of California at Davis, Department of Pomology
By Gale McGranahan & Demetrios Voyiatzis (University of Thessaloniki)
Published:HortScience 29(1):42.94.
Procedure:
1.) The leaves of in-vitro-rooted walnut microshoots were dipped in a 1:20 dilution of AntiStress. After 24 hours they were transferred to a peat/vermiculite mix and left uncovered in a greenhouse, days:35ºC, nights:21ºC, RH:60%-70%.(Unfortunately, untreated plants in the same environment could not be used as a control, as they all became desiccated and died with 6-8 hours.) The plantlets were kept in this environment for 30 days.
2.) A control group of identical plantlets (untreated) were put on peat/vermiculite inside plastic boxes, which were opened slowly over 4 weeks, to conserve a much higher RH.
Results / Data:
Criterion Control Treated Change(%)
No. of Leaves 3.5±0.3 4.1±0.3 +17.14%
Plant Height (cm) 1.3±0.2 1.6±0.5 +23.08%
Length of Top Leaf (cm) 8.8±0.4 7.7±0.6 -12.50%
Gain in Fresh Wt (%)
Shoots 353±24 505±30 +43.06%
Roots 8±2 13±3 +62.50%
Gain in Dry Wt (%)
Shoots 89±7 685±38 +669.66%
Roots 0 65±4 +++???
Survival Rate 55.0±5.0 66.5±4.5 +20.91%
Conclusions:
Treated plantlets accumulated significantly more dry matter, apparently because of their enhanced photosynthesis. The treated tissues also maintained a more favourable water balance, as the fresh weights show. Even though the control group was given the protection of plastic boxes (along with the advantage of significantly higher RH,) the AntiStress treatment produced plants which were larger, heavier, healthier, and had almost a 21% higher survival rate than the untreated controls.
1993 GAS-EXCHANGE/DROUGHT TESTS
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Horticulture
By Oded Shoseyov, Dan Pelah, Eli Yahalom, & B.Bravdo.
Procedure:
Peach trees were treated with a 1:33 dilution of AntiStress. A control group of peach trees was treated with water only. After 48 hours irrigation began; once every 24 hours for one group, once every 48 hours for the other. This continued through harvest.
Results / Data:
Criterion (DRY TEST) Untreated Treated Change(%)
Mean Fruit Wt (g) 17.5 25.8 +47.43%
TSS(BRIX) sugars 13.8 12.5 -9.42%
Criterion (WET TEST) Untreated Treated Change(%)
Mean Fruit Wt (g) 33.2 37.4 +12.65%
TSS(BRIX) sugars 12.3 12.4 +0.81%
There were no differences found between the treatment groups in terms of net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, intercellular CO2 concentrations, or leaf temperature (measured 14 days after treatment.)
Conclusions:
In the non-stressed(wet) trees, AntiStress treatment resulted in larger fruits with higher TSS(sugars.) In general, all water-stressed(dry) trees produce smaller fruits with higher TSS values, however; AntiStress treatment of the stressed trees resulted in significantly larger fruit. AntiStress had a positive effect on fruit weight in both non-stressed and water-stressed treatments.
Boiling stable proteins were markedly affected by AntiStress treatment. In the controls, water-stress resulted in increased levels of one major protein (BSP/lane 6) over the wet control. The plants treated with AntiStress showed moderate-low levels of BSP in the water-stressed plants, and dramatic increases in BSP levels of the non-stressed(wet) plants. These results indicate that the operation of AntiStress is not via anti-transpirant activity but rather as an agent which modulates the expression of water-stress related proteins.
1992 WATER DEPLETION TRIAL ON PROCESSED TOMATO PRODUCTION
University of California - West Side Research & Extension Center, Don May
Procedure:
On 13 March, tomatoes were direct seeded. At 2nd bloom (9 May) and again at 3rd bloom (9 June) the plants were treated with a 1:50 dilution of AntiStress (for a rate of 2 quarts of AntiStress concentrate per acre.) Untreated plots were maintained as controls. Starting on 13 May, water to the plots was restricted, allowing 60% of normal moisture (12.4") into the "wet" trial, and 40% of normal moisture (9.5") into the "dry" trial.
Results / Data:
Criterion Untreated Treated Increase Change(%)
Tons per Acre (DRY TEST) 45.9 49.6 3.7 tons +8.06%
Tons per Acre(WET TEST) 47.9 55.3 7.4 tons +15.45%
Conclusions:
AntiStress treatments produced significant yield increases in both the wet and dry trials.
1991 YIELD TRIAL on GOLDEN DELICIOUS APPLE ORCHARD
Israeli Agriculture Ministry Extension Service in cooperation with Hagarin R&D and Kibbutz Tzova. By S.Antman, E.Yahalom, & R.Nathan.
Procedure:
A sixteen-year-old orchard of Golden Delicious apple trees was used for the trial. Trees were uniformly spaced (@ 4 x 2.5m) and were Å3m in height. AntiStress was applied @ dilution rate 1:66 - on 6 June, and again on 7 August. Untreated control plots were maintained. Irrigation was restricted with the "wet" trials receiving 650m3/dunam while the "dry" trials received 535m3/dunam.
Results / Data:
Criterion
Untreated Treated Increase Change(%)
Yield/Tree(DRY TEST) 186.3+17 218.5+21 36.2 kg +17.81%
Yield/Tree(WET TEST) 173.4+10 215.9+28 60.2 kg +32.99%
Yield/Dunham(DRY TEST) 5589 6555 966 kg +17.28%
Yield/Dunham(WET TEST) 5202 6477 1275 kg +24.51%
No differences were found among leaf samples from the different plots.
Conclusions:
At both irrigation levels, treatment with AntiStress significantlyincreased yields - by about 20%. Decreasing irrigation to 535m3/dunam from 650m3/dunam had no real effect on yield.
1991 FROST / FREEZE TRIALS on LISBON LEMON ORCHARDS
University of California, Ventura County Cooperative Extension,
By: Ben Faber & Nicholas Sakovich - Published 12/91 in California Grower.
Procedure:
The test was conducted on 8A Lisbon Lemon trees which had been in the ground for six months. The trees were divided into five groups, and treated according to manufacturers directions with four frost-protection products (with water applied to the control group.) Four days later the temperature was lowered below 32ºF for four hours, and then to 28ºF for two hours. Two weeks later the trees were evaluated for damage.
Results / Data:
Product Damage Score Control Damage Change(%)
Kocide (copper) 14 15 +7.14%
Kocide/normal (copper) 32 15 -53.13%
Frost Shield (polymer) 14 15 +7.14%
Frost Guard (systemic) 25 15 -40.00%
AntiStress (acrylic) 10 15 +50.00%
Conclusions:
Only the trees sprayed with AntiStress showed any significant protection over the controls. Other products showed no aid in cold tolerance.
1991 QUALITY/WATER-RETENTION TRIALS on SHIPPED POTTED PLANTS
Israeli Agriculture Ministry Extension Service in cooperation with Hagarin R&D, and the Shlomo Mashiach farm of Moshav Tsur Moshe.
By E.Yahalom, E.Spigel, M.Levi & S.Mashiach.
Procedure:
The flowering potted plants used for trial were Leptospermum scoparium, Grevillea rondo and Chamaelaucium unicintum; all tested under conditions simulating shipment from Israel to Europe. In the greenhouse, plants were irrigated to saturation, completely drained and weighed. Trial plants were sprayed with AntiStress @ a dilution of 1:100. Controls were sprayed with water. After 48 hours the plants were weighed and irrigated to saturation. Complete drainage was followed by a third weighing. Plants were then wrapped individually in cellophane sleeves, packed into cartons, and transferred to cold storage (48 hours @ 9ºC.) On removal the plants were placed for 10 days in a "retail simulation" room (21ºC constant, 12h/day fluorescent light @ 1600-1800 lux) where they were irrigated, drained, and weighed every 3-4 days.
Results / Data:
L.scoparium Water Loss(Control) Water Loss(AntiStress) Change(%)
Greenhouse 25 5 80%
+ Cold Storage 50 15 70%
+ Retail Simulation (total) 250 175 30%
G.rondo Water Loss(Control) Water Loss(AntiStress) Change(%)
Greenhouse 6 5 17%
+ Cold Storage 27 18 33%
+ Retail Simulation (total) 138 112 19%
C.unicintum Water Loss(Control) Water Loss(AntiStress) Change(%)
Greenhouse 14 0 100%
+ Cold Storage 45 31 31%
+ Retail Simulation (total) 175 132 25%
Water loss is measured in grams, and is cumulative over time (so retail numbers are totals.) These values were extrapolated from trial graphs.
Conclusions:
Treatment with AntiStress significantly reduced water loss compared to the controls of all three species tested. Leptospermum has a much greater tendency to loose water than do the other two species. Previous work has shown that Leptospermum looses water during cold storage, but in the plants sprayed with AntiStress water loss during cold storage was negligible. Since plants are packed prior to cooling, the cannot be watered at this stage, and damage caused by water loss is evident after a few days. Since airfreight charges are based on weight, it is most economical to ship plants with a minimum of added moisture in the medium. AntiStress treatment maintains/improves plant condition while allowing the use of a dryer (lighter) medium.
The plants in this study were initially of uniform general appearance. After 10 days in the "retail simulation" chamber, plants treated with AntiStress had a fresher appearance and their flowers were in better condition than those of the -mostly wilted- controls.
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