
%0 Journal Article
%A Granger, A. R. 
%A Traeger, D. R. C. 
%T Effect of pre-harvest applications of an antitranspirant and vegetable oil on cracking and size of cherry (<emph type="2">Prunus avium</emph> L.) cv. Van fruit
%J Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
%D 2002/02/13
%V 42
%N 1
%P 93-96
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/EA99093
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/EA99093 
%X A 1% solution of antitranspirant and a 0.3% solution of vegetable oil were applied to cherry trees before rainfall during the 3 weeks preceding harvest to evaluate their efficacy in reducing fruit damaged by cracking in field experiments in South Australia from 1993 to 1998. Between 2 and 14% of fruit were cracked on untreated trees during this period. From 6 to 10% less cracked fruit were found in 2 of the 5 seasons following the application of antitranspirant and oil sprays. In the other 3 seasons, levels of cracked fruit were not significantly different between treatments. In the 2 driest seasons, treatment with oil or antitranspirant resulted in larger fruit than on untreated trees, and as in previous studies this was thought to be a result of reduced water loss. In 4 years, total soluble solids content of fruit were similar in all treatments, but in 1996&#8211;97 controls had significantly higher sugar levels than the treated fruit. This being the driest year during the study, it is thought that greater water loss occurred on controls leading to a higher concentration of total soluble sugars. Material costs of oil at A$96/ha per application is less, compared with antitranspirant that cost $4000/ha per application. 
