Effect of 9-hydroxy-10-oxo-12(Z), 15(Z)-octadecadienoic acid (KODA) on endodormancy breaking in flower buds of Japanese pear

Abstract

The effect of 9-hydroxy-10-oxo-12(Z), 15(Z)-octadecadienoic acid (KODA) on endodormancy breaking was studied in flower buds of japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai). The optimal concentration of KODA (100 μM) for endodormancy breaking was established over a 2-year period during the endodormancy stage of 2006 and 2007 in japanese pear cultivars Kosui, Natsushizuku, and Hosui. The effect of KODA on endodormancy breaking in flower buds was similar between 'Natsushizuku' and 'Kosui' but somewhat lower in 'Hosui'. These results indicate that KODA can be an effective agent for promoting endodormancy breaking of flower buds in 'Natsushizuku' and 'Kosui'. Although not as effective as hydrogen cyanamide, KODA may be preferable at late endodormancy stages because it has no apparent phytotoxicity.