Dear Dr. Rousso.

I am a teacher and researcher at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of comahue- Argentina, immersed in a region that is producer and exporter of apples and pears, and where am dedicated to the study of bioecology of Arthropods, with emphasis on Insecta class. The main pollinators in our area, is Apis mellifera, where in early spring, the hives are placed in the grounds with fruit trees. Here I send two publications of the experimental station INTA Alto Valle of the province of Rio Black (RN) in reference to your inquiry. Hope this will be useful. Greetings to you very carefully. Ing. Agr.MST. Associate Prof. Graciela Dapoto.

Celia Benítez, 2001"Cosecha y Poscosecha de peras y manzanas en los valles irrigados de la Patagonia",. In the library  of  INTA Alto Valle. Rio Negro Argentina

Dear Dr Dapoto thank you very much for your response. I will have it in mind. Have a nice day

Peter

Dear  Peter there is a number of spays that can increase fruit set (and return bloom), but a major problem is hot and dry climate on flower fate. I can only guess about mist conditioning but for sprays we rated  Promalin for Kaiser 4d after bloom at 20 ppm. For a field trial on Abate in SA at Stellenbosch I got this MS report from MS Dreyer http://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CDEQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.sun.ac.za%2Fbitstream%2Fhand

Dear Dr. Roussos,

I am working on PGRs in fruit and ornamental crops.

There is a product based on GA4/7 called Novagib that is registered in Greece for fruit set improvement in pear. It should be applied during flowering, either once at 120 ml/100L or twice at 60 ml/100L. Important is also to have sufficient nutrients for the development of a higher number of fruit.

Kind regards,

Joelle

Dear Joelle thank you for your answer. I have performed trials with Novagib when I was working in the company which circulates it in Greece, and it worked fine in apples both for fruit set and russeting. I believe Greek farmers do apply Novagib or similar formulations but still do not have good results with Abate Fetel though. You know, this is a peculiar cultivar and form what I have seen it requires hgih relative humidity along with PGRs to set fruits. I am still looking for the right cultural management though. Thank you again for your answer. Best regards, Peter

Dear Peter,

Indeed, I remember having heard your name few years ago. Improving fruit set in pear is tricky generally speaking, I would say. Have you seen any influence if you spray early morning, or late afternoon? Kind regards, Joelle

Dear Joelle, I have not done that test you mention, but I will have it in mind. Ussually we did all the spraying early morning, so I do not have any data on spraying late afternoon. Thank again for your kind contribution. Regards, Peter