Influence of paclobutrazol on shoot growth and flowering in a high-density pecan orchard

Abstract

Paclobutrazol (PBZ) was applied to 6-year-old pecan (Carya illinoi-nensis) trees as a basal trunk drench (0, 30, 90, and 150 mg.cmL2 trunk cross-sectional area) in Dec. 2012. Terminal shoot growth was retarded for 1 year after a single application of PBZ. The total number of current season shoots showed a significant increase with 30-and 90-mg.cmL2 PBZ treatments. After PBZ application at 30, 60, and 90 mg.cmL2, the percentage of very short shoots (<5 cm) was 32.3%, 36.3%, and 32.3%, respectively, compared with 22.4% on control trees; the percentage of short shoots (5–15 cm) increased to 36.0%, 38.1%, and 43.5%, respectively. The percent of long shoots (>30 cm) was decreased to 7.4%, 5.1%, and 7.6%, respectively, after PBZ application, compared with 18.7% with control. Shoots varying from 5 to 30 cm in length accounted for at least 63.3% of all pistillate inflorescences the following spring.