Studies were conducted in small-plot and onarm environments in Mississippi in 2018 and 2019 to determine the effect of prohexadione calcium growth regulator on the growth and yield of peanut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)]. Onarm trials conducted in 2018 and 2019 concluded that in situations where the application of prohexadione calcium increased yield, variation in application rate had no effect on yield. Yields of peanut where any rate of prohexadione calcium was applied were 415 kg ha-1 greater than yields of peanut where prohexadione calcium were not applied. The addition of other agrichemicals had no effect on the efficacy of prohexadione calcium. Small-plot research in 2019 concluded that no rate variation had any effect on the growth or yield of peanut, and also concluded that alternative application timing methods had no effect on yield or growth of peanut.

Studies were conducted in the field from 2020-2021 in peanut and cotton to optimize peanut growth and yield through prohexadione calcium application methods as well as weed control through increasing herbicide sites of action. These studies were established on multiple on-farm and small-plot locations in Mississippi. Prohexadione calcium studies concluded that following application of prohexadione calcium effects on yield and peanut growth were inconsistent. Neither varying application timing nor rate resulted in peanut yield that was different than when adhering to the label recommendations. Increasing sites of action studies concluded that broadleaf signalgrass and Amaranthus species control was optimized at four SOAs and two SOAs, respectively. Based on this study, the current recommendation of additional SOAs will not result in increased weed control.

Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Horticulture. / Thesis (PhD (Agric))--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Market preferences for larger fruit have forced producers to adopt cultural practices that will ensure bigger fruit even if this comes at the expense of reduced total yields. In order to obtain acceptable fruit size there must be an adequate supply of photosynthetic carbon products especially during the cell division stage of fruit growth. Competition between fruits and between fruit and vegetative growth, as well as adverse climatic conditions, may limit the carbon supply to the fruits at this critical period and thus limit the final fruit size. Growers are showing renewed interest in the use of girdling or scoring in combination with the usual fruit thinning program to achieve growth control and increase fruit size. A new and milder chemical growth retardant, prohexadione-calcium (ProCa), is now also available for vegetative growth control of apple trees. [n this study, the effects of, and potential interaction between scoring, ProCa and fruit thinning were investigated, with respect to shoot and fruit growth, yield and photosynthetic capacity, in 'Royal Gala" 'Fuji' and 'Cripps' Pink' apple trees. ProCa decreased final extension shoot length in all three cultivars. Extension shoots were generally more sensitive than bourse shoots to scoring and ProCa. ProCa seems to be a more effective way of controlling shoot growth than scoring, with 'Fuji' and 'Cripps' Pink' being more sensitive than 'Royal Gala' to the application of ProCa. Scoring led to increased fruit growth rates during the first 40 days after full bloom (DAFB), and culminated in better fruit size at harvest. Scoring improved the total soluble solids concentration (TSS) of 'Fuji' and 'Cripps' Pink' compared to control and ProCa treatments. ProCa inhibited shoot growth effectively, but no evidence was found for improved carbon allocation to fruits and reproductive buds. Yield efficiencies of scored trees were significantly improved in all cultivars during the second season, due to better reproductive bud development after the first year of scoring. On 'Royal Gala' and 'Cripps' Pink', the efficiency of scoring to stimulate reproductive bud development on old and new spurs declined after 4 weeks after full bloom (WAFB). In 'Fuji', scoring later than I WAFB led to a decreasing positive response on old and new spurs. In contrast, reproductive bud development on long shoots increased with later scoring (6 and 8 W AFB) on all cultivars. It seems that the most beneficial time of scoring is 2-4 W AFB, as early as possible during the cell division stage offruit growth, but not before natural drop has occurred. The combination of early-season scoring and application of ProCa seems to hold potential for increasing carbon allocation to the fruit and improving fruit size and quality attributes. Scoring early in the season reduced photosynthetic capacity, and this reduction in carbon availability led to earlier cessation of shoot growth as well as shorter shoots. Later in the season, reduced fruit numbers led to a decrease in photosynthesis. The optimum temperature range for photosynthesis was found to adjust according to seasonal temperature variations. The harvest-induced reduction in sink strength changed stomatal sensitivity to higher temperature. Due to a reduced demand for carbohydrates by the plant, the maximum rate of photosynthesis (Amax) was reduced post-harvest. Following this reduction in sink strength and Am .. , stomata became more sensitive to high leaf temperatures, thus restricting water loss. Pre-harvest there was a strong demand for carbohydrates, therefore stomata were kept open at higher temperatures to ensure a high rate of C02 incorporation, but at a cost with regard to water use efficiency. The sharp increase in dark respiration (Rd) in leaves and fruit with an increase in temperature would mean that significant carbohydrate shortages could occur in trees during source limited periods early in the season, especially under warm weather conditions commonly experienced in the Western Cape region. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die effek van omgewings- en interne faktore op koolstofproduksie en -allokasie in appelbome (Malus domestlca Borkh.). Mark voorkeur vir groter vrugte forseer produsente om tegnieke te gebruik wat groter vrugte sal verseker selfs al beteken dit verlaagde totale opbrengste. Om aanvaarbare vruggrootte te bereik moet daar voldoende voorsiening van fotosinteties geproduseerde koolstofprodukte aan die vrug wees, veral gedurende die selverdelingstadium van vruggroei. Kompetisie tussen vrugte, en tussen vrugte en vegetatiewe groei sal die voorsiening van koolstof gedurende die kritieke stadium aan die vrug beperk en so vruggroote benadeel. Daar is dus hernude belangstelling in die gebruik van ringelering in kombinasie met die gewone vrug uitdunprogramme om groei te beheer en vruggrootte te verbeter. 'n Nuwe, sagter chemiese groeireguleerder, proheksadioon-kalsium (ProCa) is ook nou beskikbaar vir groeibeheer op appelbome. In hierdie studie is die effekte van, en moontlike interaksie tussen ringelering, ProCa en vruguitdunning ondersoek ten opsigte van loot- en vruggroei en opbrengs, sowel as die effekte op gaswisseling op 'Royal Gala', 'Fuji' en 'Cripps' Pink' appelbome. ProCa veroorsaak korter lote in aJ drie kultivars. Verlengingslote is meer sensitief as beurslote vir ringelering en ProCa. ProCa is effektiewer as ringelering om lootgroei te beheer, en 'Fuji' en 'Cripps' Pink' is sensitiewer as 'Royal Gala'. Ringelering lei tot verbeterde vruggroeitempos gedurende die eerste 40 dae na volblom en verbeterde vruggrootte by oes. Ringelering verbeter die totale oplosbare vastestotkonsentrasie (TOVS) van 'Fuji' en 'Cripps' Pink' in vergelyking met kontrole- en ProCa-behandelings, onderskeideHk. ProCa inhibeer lootgroei effektief, maar geen bewyse van verbeterde koolstomllokasie na vrugte en reproduktiewe knoppe is gevind nie. Opbrengseffektiwiteit van geringeleerde borne verhoog gedurende die tweede seisoen van ringelering weens beter reproduktiewe knopontwikkeling. Ringelering later as 4 weke na volblom (WNVB) is minder effektief om reproduktiewe knopontwikkeling op ou en nuwe spore in 'Royal Gala' en 'Cripps' Pink' te stimuleer. Die positiewe effek van ringelering op reproduktiewe knoppe op 'Fuji' verminder sodra dit later as I WNVB gedoen word. Op langlote het 'n laat ringelering (6 en 8 WNVB) die beste effek op reproduktiewe knopontwikkeling. Die mees voordelige tyd om te ringeIeer was 2-4 WNVB, so vroeg as moontlik gedurende die selverdelingstadium van vruggroei, maar nie voor natuurlike vrugval voltooi is nie. Die kombinasie van vroei! ringelering en die toediening van ProCa het potensiaal om koolstofallokasie na die vrug te verbeter, met die gepaardgaande verbetering in vruggrootte en -kwaliteit. RingeJering vroeg in die seisoen inhibeer fotosintese en hierdie verlaging in koolstof beskikbaarheid het tot gevolg dat lootgroei vroei!r gestaak word. Later in die seisoen veroorsaak verlaagde vruggetalle 'n afname in fotosintese. Die optimum temperatuur vir fotosintese verander na gelang van heersende lugtemperature. Die oes-geinduseerde verlaging in sinksterkte verander stomatale sensitiwiteit vir hoo temperature. Weens 'n verJaagde aanvraag vir koolhidrate deur die plant word fotosintese verlaag na-oes. Weens die verlaging is stomata sensitiewer vir hoer temperature en beperk dus waterverlies. V oor oes is daar 'n hoo aanvraag na koolhidrate dus word stomata oop gehou selfs by hoe temperature ten koste van watergebruiksdoeltreffendheid. Die skerp styging in donker respirasie in blare en vrugte met 'n verhoging in temperature sal beteken dat koolhidraat-tekorte kan ontstaan in bome gedurende die bron-beperkte periodes vroeg in die seisoen, veral onder warm toestande 500S wat algemeen ervaar word in die Wes Kaap.

Biennial bearing, low precocity, and vigorous vegetative growth are major production constraints of ‘Northern Spy’ apple trees. Experiments were conducted in bearing and non-bearing ‘Northern Spy’/M.9 orchards to determine whether plant bioregulator applications of ethephon (ETH), napthaleneacetic acid (NAA), prohexadione-calcium (P-Ca), and/or benzyladenine (BA) could be used to overcome these production constraints of ‘Northern Spy’. Ethephon application at 150, 300, or 450 mg∙L-1 in the ‘on’ year increased return bloom, fruit yield, and alleviated biennial bearing in the ‘off’ year in a positive linear relationship to concentration when trees were moderately biennial in cropping. Applications applied 22 June were more effective than 27 July or 31 Aug. applications. However, single or multiple (2, 3, or 4) application(s) of 150 mg∙L-1 ETH or 5 mg∙L-1 NAA were ineffective when trees were not biennial. Two ETH applications at 1500 mg∙L-1 to non-bearing trees significantly increased flowering and fruit yield the year following treatment. The combination of P-Ca with ETH had an additive effect on shoot growth and improved growth control compared to P-Ca alone. Two BA applications at 500 mg∙L-1 had no effect on lateral branching of young trees. / Chudleigh's Limited, MITACS Accelerate

Prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca), a plant growth regulator used primarily in fruit trees to suppress excessive vegetative growth and to inhibit disease incidence, is known to inhibit dioxygenase enzymes and to inhibit GA biosynthesis. It induces genes for polyphenols synthesis. The objective of this project was to determine if the bioregulator Pro-Ca would alter the yield of essential oil, secondary metabolites, and growth in spearmint. Spearmint shoot cuttings from the same mother plant were used in this study. The plants were treated with 0, 125, 250, 375, and 500 mg/L a.i. of Pro-Ca over four weeks, and growth responses were measured every week and at harvest. Compared with the untreated control plants, plant height, branch length, number of nodes, and fresh weight were decreased with increased concentration of Pro-Ca treatment, and total phenolics accumulation increased. Rosmarinic acid and total chlorophyll content were reduced relative to control after treatment. Treatment with increased concentration of Pro-Ca altered the accumulation of flavonoids compounds. Increased concentration of catechin and eriodictyol-7-glucoside, and decreased concentrations of procyanidin and luteolin occurred compared with the untreated plant. Modification of newly formed flavonoid synthesis could be used as a new potential strategy in plant protection.

Embora o Brasil apresente grande potencial para a expansão da cultura do abacateiro, sobretudo devido as condições edafoclimáticas favoráveis, sua produção ainda é restrita no país, principalmente devido a fatores limitantes, como a não adoção do adensamento nos pomares comerciais e de manejos agronômicos que favoreçam a produção e qualidade de frutos; a presença de Phytophthora cinnamomi, principal patógeno que afeta a cultura em todo o mundo; o fato da grande maioria dos pomares comerciais serem cultivados sob condições de sequeiro; e devido a fatores inerentes a ecofisiologia da planta, como vigor excessivo, baixa fixação de frutos e a dificuldade em controlar a alternância de produção. A aplicação de fitorreguladores é um manejo importante e com bons resultados, nos pomares comerciais dos principais países produtores, sendo esta uma técnica que visa melhorar a produtividade, incrementar o tamanho dos frutos, diminuir a alternância produtiva e reduzir o vigor vegetativo. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o efeito de distintos fitorreguladores no desenvolvimento vegetativo, produção, eficiência e alternância produtiva, tamanho e formato de frutos e na qualidade pós-colheita de abacateiros \'Hass\' não irrigados. Entre 2013 e 2016, foram avaliados sete tratamentos via pulverização foliar: T1: água (testemunha); T2: 250 mg.L-1 Viviful® (68,75 mg.L-1 prohexadione-cálcio); T3: 0,7% Cultar® 250 SC (0,175% paclobutrazol); T4: 0,7% Sunny® (0,035% uniconazole); T5: 1% Moddus® (0,25% etil-trinexapac); T6: 1250 mg.L-1 MaxCel® (25 mg.L-1 6- benziladenina) aplicados no florescimento; e T7: 125 mg.L-1 ProGibb® 400 (50 mg.L-1 ácido giberélico) aplicado no início do mês de dezembro antes da segunda queda natural de frutos. O delineamento experimental foi conduzido em blocos ao acaso, com 7 tratamentos, 4 repetições e 2 plantas por parcela. Nos distintos tratamentos foram avaliados: tamanho da planta; crescimento dos brotos de primavera; produção, tamanho e formato de frutos e a qualidade pós-colheita. Os fitorreguladores utilizados não afetaram significativamente o desenvolvimento vegetativo, a eficiência produtiva e a produção de frutos, bem como não influenciaram na qualidade pós-colheita dos mesmos. O inibidor de giberelina uniconazole (T4) foi o responsável por reduzir significativamente o crescimento dos brotos de primavera durante os três anos de avaliações. A citocinina 6-benziladenina (T6) reduziu de forma significativa a alternância produtiva de abacateiros \'Hass\' enquanto o uniconazole (T4), prohexadione-cálcio (T2) e 6-benziladenina (T6) aumentaram significativamente o tamanho dos frutos. A maioria dos fitorreguladores utilizados modificaram o formato dos frutos, tornando-os mais arredondados, com destaque para o efeito do etil-trinexapac (T5). A aplicação dos distintos fitorreguladores se apresentam inconstantes ao longo dos anos de pesquisa e não afetam número, produção de frutos (Kg.planta-1) e eficiência produtiva de abacateiros \'Hass\' não irrigados. / Although Brazil presents great potential for the expansion of the avocado crop, especially due to the favorable edaphoclimatic conditions, its production is still restricted in the country, mainly due to limiting factors, such as the non-adoption of high-density plantings in commercial orchards and agronomic managements to support high fruit yield and quality; the presence of Phytophthora cinnamomi, the main pathogen affecting avocados around the world; the fact that most of the commercial orchards are grown under rainfed conditions; and also due to factors that are inherent to the tree\'s ecophysiology, such as the excessive vigor, low fruit set and difficulty in controlling the alternate bearing. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) have become important management tools in the commercial orchards of the main producer countries for improving yields, increasing fruit size, reducing alternate bearing and reducing vegetative vigor. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of different PGRs on vegetative growth, fruit yield, yield efficiency and alternate bearing, fruit size and shape, and post-harvest quality of \'Hass\' avocados non-irrigated. Between 2013 and 2016, seven treatments were evaluated by foliar sprays : T1: water (control); T2: 250 mg.L-1 Viviful® (68,75 mg.L-1 prohexadione-calcium); T3: 0,7% Cultar® 250 SC (0,175% paclobutrazol); T4: 0,7% Sunny® (0,035% uniconazole); T5: 1% Moddus® (0,25% trinexapac-ethyl); T6: 1250 mg.L-1 MaxCel® (25 mg.L-1 6-benzyladenine) all applied in full bloom; and T7: 125 mg.L-1 ProGibb® 400 (50 mg.L-1 gibberelic acid) applied at the beginning of December, before the second natural fruit drop. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with seven treatments, four replications and two plants per plot. The following variables were evaluated: tree size, spring shoot growth, fruit yield, size and shape and post-harvest fruit quality. The applied PGRs did not significantly affect tree size, yield efficiency and fruit yield, nor did they influence the post-harvest fruit quality. Uniconazole (T4) was responsible of a significant shortening of spring shoots during the three years of evaluations. The cytokinin 6-benzyladenine (T6) significantly reduced alternate bearing of \'Hass\' avocado trees. Spring sprays of uniconazole (T4), prohexadione-calcium (T2) and 6-benzyladenine (T6) significantly increased fruit size. Most of the PGRs modified -fruit shape of \'Hass\' avocados to a more rounded format, with trinexapac-ethyl (T5) showing a stronger effect. The application of the different PGRs are inconsistent throughout the years of research and do not affect fruit number and yield (kg.tree-1) and yield efficiency of non-irrigated \'Hass\' avocados.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:44:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGPV11MA076.pdf: 421773 bytes, checksum: 6fbf2a3579e5da5aa39372d361a40b76 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-22 / The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of spraying apple trees with prohexadione-calcium (ProCa) (na inhibitor of gibberellins synthesis) and gibberellin (GA₃) on vegetative growth, yield potential, fruit quality, and occurrence of bitter pit in the fruit. The experimente was conducted in na orchard located in São Joaquim, Santa catarina State (Southern Brazil), in 2009/2010. catarina and Fuji apple trees were sprayed with water (control), ProCa and gibberellin (both products at the dose of 319 mg L¯¹), at the petal fall stage (October 15, 2009), when shoots were 5-10 cm long, with treatments repeated after 20 days. Leaves were assessed (in termsmof chlorophyll contente, área, dry mater and specific área) in January/2010, and length of current season shoots and weight of shoots removed by winter pruning were assessed in May/2010. The number of flower buds ando f fruit per flower bud were assessed in October/2009 and November/2010, respectively. Fruit were harvest at comercial maturity and then assessed for percentage of red skin área, skin color, density, weight, skin and pulp textures, flesh firmness, titratable acidity (TA), solids soluble contente (SSC) and starch index. Fruit were cold stored (0±0.5°C/90-95% RH) for four months, followed seven days for simulate marketing (20±4°C/60-70% RH) for four months, same evaluation carried out at harvest, as well as for incidence (%) and index of bitter pit. Trees treated with ProCa had higher leaf chlorophyll contente and lower specific leaf área in Fuji , lower leaf área in Catarina , lower shoot growth in both cultivars, and lower weight of shoots removed by winter pruning in Catarina , in the year following the treatment of the trees, both cultivars sprayed with ProCa had lower fruit set. the ProCa incresead the red color in Catarina apples. At harvest, the force for pulp penetratoon in the red side of the fruit was incresead in apple trees of both cultivars sprayed with ProCa. After cold stored, Fuji apples of trees sprayed with GA₃ had lower flesh firmness, while Catarina apples of trees sprayed with ProCa had higher firmness. Fruit Ca contente was not diferente between ProCa and GA₃ and between ProCa e the control in both cultivars. Fuji apples from trees treated with ProCa had lower N/Ca ratio in the skin tissue. Teh treatment with ProCa incresead the flesh firmness in the reddish fruit side and reduced the index of bitter pit during cold storage in both cultuivars. The use of ProCa in apples orchards might represent a new technology to reduce trees vegetative growth and the occurrence of bitter pit in the fruit. The GA₃ sprayed after full bloom increases trees vegetative growth and might cause changes in fruit quality atributes, leading to advanced maturiry, as well as increases the development of bitter pit / Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo avaliar os efeitos da pulverização de macieira com um inibidor da síntese de giberelinas, o prohexadiona-cálcio (ProCa), e com giberelina (GA₃), no crescimento vegetativo e potencial produtivo das plantas, e na qualidade e ocorrência de bitter pit nos frutos. O experimento foi conduzido em um pomar localizado no município de São Joaquim, SC, na safra 2009/2010. Macieiras Catarina e Fuji foram pulverizadas com água (tratamento controle), ProCa e GA₃ (ambos os produtos na dose de 319 mg L¯¹), na queda das pétalas (15/10/2009), quando as brotações do ano estavam com 5-10 cm de comprimento, sendo repetidas após 20 dias. Foram feitas avaliações foliares (teor de clorofila, área, matéria seca e área específica), em janeiro/2010, e de comprimento dos ramos do ano e de peso dos ramos podados, em maio/2010. A contagem dos cachos florais e do números de frutos por cacho floral ocorreram em outubro/2009 e novembro/2010, respectivamente. A colheita foi realizada na maturação comercial, ocasião em que foram feitas análises nos frutos do índice de cor vermelha, cor da epiderme, densidade, peso, atributos de textura (força para a penetração da casca e força para a penetração da polpa), firmeza de polpa, acidez titulável, sólidos solúveis totais (SS) e índice de iodo-amido. Os frutos foram armazenados em câmara fria convencional (0±0,5°C/90-95% UR), durante quatro meses, seguido de sete dias de comercialização simulada (20±4°C/60-70 UR), e após submetido as mesmas avaliações feitas na colheita, bem como de incidência (%) e índice de bitter pit . O tratamento com ProCa aumentou o teor de clorofila e reduziu a área foliar específica em macieira Fuji , reduziu a área foliar em Catarina , reduziu o comprimento dos ramos do ano nas duas cultivares e o peso dos ramos podados em Catarina . No ano subsequente ao da aplicação dos tratamentos, macieiras pulverizadas com o ProCa, de ambas as cultivares, apresentaram menor frutificação. O tratamento com ProCa proporcionou maior coloração vermelha em maçãs Catarina . No momento da colheita, maçãs Fuji e Catarina provenientes de plantas pulverizadas com ProCa apresentaram maior força para a penetração da polpa no lado mais vermelho dos frutos. Após o armazenamento, maçãs Fuji de plantas pulverizadas com GA₃ apresentaram menor firmeza de polpa e maçãs Catarina de plantas pulverizadas com ProCa apresentaram maior firmeza de polpa. O teor de Ca nos frutos não diferiu entre os tratamentos ProCa e GA₃ e entre ProCa e controle, em ambas as cultivares. Maçãs Fuji apresentaram menor relação N/Ca no tecido da casca quando pulverizadas com ProCa. O tratamento com ProCa proporcionou aumento na firmeza no lado mais vermelho do fruto e reduziu o índice de bitter pit durante o armazenamento refrigerado em ambas as cultivares. A utilização do ProCa na cultura da macieira pode ser uma nova alternativa para o controle do crescimento vegetativo de da manifestação do bitter pit nos frutos. O GA₃, pulverizado em pós-floração, em macieiras aumenta o crescimento vegetativo e pode ocasionar algumas modificações nos atributos de qualidade nos frutos, indicando um avanço na maturação, e na manifestação do bitter pit

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:22:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Fernando_Jose_Hawerroth.pdf: 6659971 bytes, checksum: e37f7fea29ee58245d356204894a8ce6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-11-23 / The proper balance between vegetative growth and frutification in pome fruit species such as apple and pear, it is essential to increase production efficiency and improving fruit quality. In this sense, control of vegetative growth and frutification increase are needed in the management of these species, which may be obtained by use of growth regulators. The objective of this study was to evaluate the control of vegetative growth and frutification increase of apple and pear orchards in the Southern Brazil climatic conditions in response to the use of growth regulators. For this, three experiments were carried out in this research. In the first experiment, different concentrations of prohexadione calcium were evaluated in 'Imperial Gala' and 'Fuji Suprema' apple trees, grafted on Marubakaido rootstock with M9 interstock, in an orchard located in Fraiburgo/SC. The treatments (0, 165, 330, 495, 660, and 990 g ha-1 prohexadione calcium) were applied during the vegetative growth in 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 growing seasons. The concentrations corresponding to each treatment were applied split into three parts. The first application was done when the shoots of the control treatment showed growth of 10 cm. The second and third applications were made at 30 and 60 days after the first application, respectively. The prohexadione calcium was effective in controlling vegetative growth of apple trees 'Imperial Gala' and 'Fuji Suprema', reducing the total weight and average weight of pruned shoots, as well as the average shoot length, in the Southern Brazil climatic conditions. The use of prohexadione calcium at concentrations ranging from 165 to 330 g ha-1 increased the fruit production of 'Imperial Gala' apples, but high concentrations of this growth regulator tends to reduce the fruit production, especially in 'Fuji Suprema' apples. The reduction of vegetative growth by the use of prohexadione calcium contributed to increase calcium content in fruits of 'Fuji Suprema'. The second experiment was carried out in Pelotas/RS, using 'Hosui' pears grafted on Pyrus calleryana rootstock. Different 8 concentrations of prohexadione calcium were evaluated (0, 275, 550, and 825 g ha- 1), being half the concentration corresponding to each treatment applied when the shoots had between 5 to 10 cm in length, and the remainder applied 30 days after the first application. The use of prohexadione calcium was effective in controlling the vegetative growth of 'Hosui' pears, decreasing the need for winter pruning by reducing the total weight and the number of shoots pruned. The control of vegetative growth by use of prohexadione calcium determined increase the productive capacity of 'Hosui pears, especially at concentrations ranging from 450 to 750 g ha-1. The aim of the third experiment was to evaluate the effectiveness of thidiazuron, gibberellic acid, prohexadione calcium and combination of these substances on frutification increase of 'Shinseiki' asian pears. The following treatments were applied at full bloom: 1. control (no application); 2. thidiazuron (TDZ) 20 mg L-1; 3. gibberellic acid (GA) 20 mg L-1; 4. prohexadione calcium (PCa) 600 mg L-1; 5. PCa 600 mg L-1 + TDZ 20 mg L-1; 6. PCa 600 mg L-1 + AG 20 mg L-1; e 7. AG 20 mg L-1 + TDZ 20 mg L-1. The application thidiazuron at 20 mg L-1, gibberellic acid at 20 mg L-1 and the combination of these substances during the full bloom increased significantly the frutification and the fruit production of 'Shinseiki' pears. The prohexadione calcium, when sprayed at flowering alone or in combination to thidiazuron and gibberellic acid, was not effective to increase the fruit set and fruit production. The use of growth regulators on flowering decreased the number of seeds per fruit. / O adequado balanço entre o desenvolvimento vegetativo e a frutificação em espécies pomáceas, como a macieira e a pereira, é fundamental ao aumento da eficiência produtiva e a melhoria da qualidade dos frutos. Neste sentido, o controle do desenvolvimento vegetativo e o aumento da frutificação são necessários no manejo de tais espécies, podendo ser obtidos pelo uso de fitorreguladores. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o controle do desenvolvimento vegetativo e o aumento da frutificação de macieiras e de pereiras nas condições climáticas do Sul do Brasil em resposta ao uso de fitorreguladores. Para tanto, foram realizados três experimentos. No primeiro experimento, foram avaliadas diferentes concentrações de proexadione cálcio em macieiras Imperial Gala e Fuji Suprema , enxertadas no porta-enxerto Marubakaido com interenxerto de M9, em pomar localizado em Fraiburgo/SC. Os tratamentos (0; 165; 330; 495; 660; e 990 g ha-1 de proexadione cálcio) foram aplicados durante o período de desenvolvimento vegetativo nos ciclos 2008/2009 e 2009/2010. As concentrações respectivas a cada tratamento foram aplicadas parceladamente em três momentos. A primeira aplicação foi realizada quando as brotações do tratamento testemunha apresentavam crescimento de 10 cm. A segunda e a terceira aplicação foram realizadas aos 30 e 60 dias após a primeira aplicação, respectivamente. O proexadione cálcio foi eficiente no controle do desenvolvimento vegetativo de macieiras Imperial Gala e Fuji Suprema , reduzindo a massa total e a massa média de ramos, assim como o comprimento médio dos ramos, nas condições climáticas do Sul do Brasil. O uso de proexadione cálcio em concentrações variando de 165 a 330 g ha-1 aumentou a produção de maçãs Imperial Gala , porém altas concentrações deste fitorregulador tendem a reduzir a produção de frutos por planta, sobretudo em macieiras Fuji Suprema . A redução do desenvolvimento vegetativo pelo uso do proexadione cálcio contribuiu 6 para o aumento dos teores de cálcio em maçãs Fuji Suprema . O segundo experimento foi realizado no município de Pelotas/RS, utilizando pereiras Hosui enxertadas no porta-enxerto Pyrus calleryana. Foram avaliadas diferentes concentrações de proexadione cálcio (0; 275; 550; e 825 g ha-1), sendo metade da concentração respectiva a cada tratamento aplicada quando as brotações apresentavam entre 5 a 10 cm de comprimento, e o restante aplicado 30 dias após a primeira aplicação. O uso de proexadione cálcio foi efetivo no controle do desenvolvimento vegetativo de pereiras Hosui , minimizando a necessidade de poda hibernal pela redução da massa total e do número de ramos podados. O controle do desenvolvimento vegetativo pelo uso de proexadione cálcio determinou aumento da capacidade produtiva de pereiras Hosui , sobretudo em concentrações de 450 a 750 g ha-1. O objetivo do terceiro experimento foi avaliar a efetividade do thidiazuron, ácido giberélico, proexadione cálcio e a combinação destas substâncias no aumento da frutificação de pereiras asiáticas Shinseiki . Os seguintes tratamentos foram aplicados na plena floração: 1. testemunha (sem aplicação); 2. thidiazuron (TDZ) 20 mg L-1; 3. ácido giberélico (AG) 20 mg L-1; 4. proexadione cálcio (PCa) 600 mg L-1; 5. PCa 600 mg L-1 + TDZ 20 mg L-1; 6. PCa 600 mg L-1 + AG 20 mg L-1; e 7. AG 20 mg L-1 + TDZ 20 mg L-1. A aplicação de thidiazuron 20 mg L-1, ácido giberélico 20 mg L-1 e a combinação destas substâncias durante a plena floração aumentaram significativamente a frutificação e a produção de pereiras Shinseiki . O proexadione cálcio, quando aplicado na floração isoladamente ou em combinação ao thidiazuron e ao ácido giberélico, não se mostrou efetivo no aumento da frutificação e na produção de frutos. A utilização dos fitorreguladores na floração diminuiu o número médio de sementes por fruto.