Effect of Giberelic Acid on Flowering Delay Apricot (cv. Asgarabad)

The goal of this experiment was to save apricot flowers from late spring frost damage. This experiment was conducted during 2007-2008 to examine the effect of application of different concentrations of gibberellic acid in two forms pure (GA3) and impure (Berelex) at (0, 50, 100, 200, 300 mgL-1) at 23 August and 23 September to delay flowering in apricot Asgarabad cultivar. A factorial experiment with two factors (time and concentration of spray) was conducted in layout of randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with 3 replications. Results showed that the effect of both of pure and impure gibberellic acid on delaying flowering were significant. According to the results, 50 mgL-1 of gibberellic acid applied at 23 September was the best treatment which delayed full bloom about 7 days. Application of Gibberellic acid increased fruit set, but reduced fruit weight. Effect of time and concentration of GA3 spray was significant on TSS so that in treatments delaying flowering, the TSS of fruits decreased.