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2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Determining the Effect of Acadian LSC Seaweed Extract, Maxcel PGR, and Low-Biuret Urea on Pistachio Inflorescence Bud Abscission

Thursday, August 2, 2018
International Ballroom East/Center (Washington Hilton)
Leigh F Archer, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Narges Mahvelati, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Lu Zhang, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Emre Billen, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Gureet Brar, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Science, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
Eden Lange, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Muhammad Hammad Raza, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Mateen Sajid, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Abdollatif Sheikhi, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Daniel YP Syverson, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
Ahmad Tajabadipour, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Holly Little, Acadian SeaPlants, Sacramento, CA, United States
Louise Ferguson, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
This trial examined the potential of Ascophyllum nodosum based biostimulants, produced by Acadian Seaplants LLC, the currently registered growth regulator, MaxCel® (6-benzyladenine (6BA) 1.9% AI), and low-biuret urea (Total Nitrogen Analysis 46.0% minimum), to mitigate floral bud abscission in pistachios, the visible mechanism of alternate bearing. The Acadian products are formulated to alleviate alternate bearing by increasing shoot nitrogen levels to enhance photosynthesis and carbohydrate status of the shoot. MaxCel is a growth regulator used to increase bud sink strength, and low-biuret urea is used as a nitrogen fertilizer. 8 different treatment combinations were applied to 8 replicate rows over two growing seasons. Treatment applications at 1085 and 1380 accumulated temperature units were selected to correlate with the initiation and midpoint of embryo growth respectively. Average percent bud abscission ranged from 86-95% across all treatments with no significant differences in abscission or yield between treatments at α=.05.