Cornell study looks at PGRs and better harvest timing for cider apples
Recent research shows strategic use of PGRs helps growers balance fruit maturity, limit preharvest drop and boost harvest efficiency.
New research from Cornell University suggests cider apple growers can manage harvest timing and reduce fruit drop by tailoring plant growth regulator (PGR) programs to their intended harvest method.
The findings, recently highlighted by Morning Ag Clips, show that strategic use of commonly available PGRs can help growers balance fruit maturity, preharvest drop and harvest efficiency, whether fruit is picked by hand or mechanically. The research was led by Cornell horticulture professor Gregory Peck and colleagues and published in HortTechnology.
Researchers evaluated the effects of three PGR strategies:
- NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid) reduced preharvest fruit drop while encouraging fruit ripening, making it well suited for over-the-row mechanical harvesting followed by immediate processing.
- NAA combined with ethephon accelerated ripening and concentrated fruit drop into the week before harvest, a potential advantage for shake-and-sweep mechanical harvesting systems.
- AVG (aminoethoxyvinylglycine) delayed ripening, increased fruit firmness and reduced fruit drop, making it better suited for orchards relying on hand harvest and longer storage before processing.
According to the researchers, matching PGR programs with harvest equipment and processing timelines could help growers improve efficiency while minimizing fruit losses.
The work is particularly relevant as cider apple producers continue to explore mechanized harvest systems to address labor shortages and reduce production costs. Cornell has been actively researching crop load management, harvest timing and mechanization strategies to improve the profitability of cider apple production.