Control of tree size is one of the main problems for which techniques to reduce vegetative growth and increase fruit quality and yield are important in the orchard management system. With this aim in mind, mature peach trees of the cultivars J. H. Hale and Red Skin grown on peach seedling at the Moghan agro industrial orchard were used. The effect of paclobutrazol soil treatments, (0,0.5 and 1.5 gr/tree) on experimental trees during the dormant periods in the 1996-97 was evaluated. The experiment was carried out in a split plot on the basis of completely randomized design with six replications. The effect of paclobutrazol on some vegetative growth and relative water content of leaves was studied. Results showed that paclobutrazol significantly reduced vegetative growth in the first year of application the total dry weight of pruning in treated trees was less than that of controls. The high level of paclobutrazol caused the most growth inhibition. On a commercial scale, paclobutrazol treatment would be able to give substantial benefits to peach growers by saving in pruning costs.

Keywords: Peach, Paclobutrazol, Growth regulators, Vegetative growth, Relative water content.

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