The chemical thinning is a viable alternative in apple orchards, because it may be done in a short period of time, reducing the labor in relation to hand thinning. Studies carried out in major apple producing regions show the benefits of using 6-benzyladenine (BA) in chemical thinning. The studies with this substance are essential for improvement of chemical thinning and subsequent use by apple producers in Brazil. In this sense, four experiments were carried out to evaluate the BA application response, alone or in mixture with carbaryl and Promalin®, at different times and concentrations on thinning of 'Fuji Suprema' and 'Lisgala' apples. BA applications at higher concentrations are effective in thinning 'Fuji Suprema' and 'Lisgala' apples. There is an effectiveness reduction when BA is sprayed on fruits larger than 10 mm in diameter. The BA concentration may be reduced by mixture with carbaryl without reduction of chemical thinning effect.
Malus domestica; plant growth regulators; cytokinins; fruit quality
