Interfarm UK Ltd, an affiliate of Sumitomo Chemical Company, has announced that it will be handling the new formulation of Regulex 10 SG for the top fruit market in the UK. Containing 100 g/kg of the gibberellins G4 and G7, Regulex 10 SG is a plant growth regulator for use on apples for russet control.
Regulex is an established brand in the UK top fruit market but Regulex 10 SG is a new and advanced formulation of the widely-used product. For optimum results in apples, good coverage of the fruitlets is essential and this can best be achieved by applying Regulex 10 SG in a water volume suitable for the tree canopy size to receive good coverage using a suitable orchard sprayer.
“Based on a combination of the plant regulating hormones gibberellins G4 with some G7, Regulex 10 SG is applied in the spring from early petal fall onwards in a multi-spray programme, as per the label, to control russeting and thereby improve fruit quality and marketability,” explained Dr. David Stormonth, technical manager, Interfarm. “It works by making the outer epidermal cells of the rapidly expanding fruitlets more elastic after petal fall, so that microscopic cracks do not develop during early fruit formation.
“The brown russet appearance in top fruit is caused by water getting into microscopic cracks and bursting cells within the fruit skin which then dry out and cause the russeting symptom. Regulex 10 SG can prevent russeting by being applied in a programme, either four sprays at dose rate of 20-40 gms/ha at seven day intervals or at 25-50 gms/ha at 10 day intervals. The dose rate and spray interval depends on the variety grown and the weather-related risk.”
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