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Making mass harvesters more productive with an abscission agent

Citrus Research and Education Center. Making mass harvesters more productive with an abscission agent. Jackie Burns Citrus Research and Education Center, UF-IFAS jkbu@ufl.edu (863) 956-1151. Citrus Research and Education Center. Two types of mechanical harvesters

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Making mass harvesters more productive with an abscission agent

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  1. Citrus Research and Education Center Making mass harvesters more productive with an abscission agent Jackie Burns Citrus Research and Education Center, UF-IFAS jkbu@ufl.edu (863) 956-1151

  2. Citrus Research and Education Center Two types of mechanical harvesters are operating in Florida today Trunk Shake and Catch Continuous Canopy Shake and Catch

  3. Citrus Research and Education Center The tractor-drawn canopy shaker is also being used commercially in Florida. Fruit are dropped to the ground and recovered by a hand ‘gleaning’ crew. ‘tractor-drawn’ canopy shaker

  4. Citrus Research and Education Center Fruit removal with mass harvesters is very good. With an abscission agent, fruit removal will improve. CMNP is a selective abscission agent - only loosens mature fruit Can harvest 3 to 5 days after application Easier fruit removal means - faster harvesting - successful late season harvest

  5. Citrus Research and Education Center Abscission increases speed of mechanical harvesting Requirements: ‘selective’ abscission agent high volume application average force MH Outcomes: excellent uniform mature fruit removal 2-4-fold increase in speed of removal increased harvesting capacity

  6. 1.0 mph 100 1.5 mph a a a 2.0 mph 95 a a 90 Mature fruit removal (%) 85 b 80 75 no abscission CMNP Citrus Research and Education Center Abscission increases speed of mechanical harvesting Increasing MH capacity: More fruit removed in the same time period (a day, a month, a season) Canopy shaker harvest April 19, 2004

  7. Citrus Research and Education Center Removing the impediment to late season harvest The problem: • ~30% Valencia acreage remains to be harvested after May 1 • -processors: fruit delivered into June • Mechanical harvesting past May 1st reduces yield the • next season by as • much as 50%

  8. Citrus Research and Education Center Abscission makes late season mechanical harvesting a success Requirements: ‘selective’ abscission agent high volume application low force MH Outcomes: excellent mature fruit removal low immature fruit removal little yield reduction the next year

  9. Trunk shaker harvest May 25, 2004 Yield – May 6, 2005 a a a b a b b b b c 4.8 Hz 4.8 Hz 8.0 Hz 8.0 Hz Citrus Research and Education Center Late season Valencia mechanical harvesting a reality with low force + CMNP Low force

  10. Citrus Research and Education Center What is CMNP, and what are the consequences of its application? 5-chloro-3-methyl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazole aka ‘CMNP’ • Harvest 3-5 days after application • Peel injury on blossom end • Injury restricted to flavedo Valencia treated with 250 ppm CMNP, 5 days after application

  11. Citrus Research and Education Center Juice quality and CMNP Canopies were sprayed with CMNP, harvested 5 days after application, then held 5 days at 70oF

  12. Citrus Research and Education Center Fractions and residues Harvest 3-5 days after application CMNP penetrates no further than the peel CMNP rapidly metabolized to inactive compounds • The FDOC actively engaged in registration of CMNP • Studies that determine residues in fractions • are among the first conducted • If significant ‘red-flags’ are indicated, registration • will be abandoned • If this occurs, UF/IFAS has additional abscission • candidates to pursue

  13. Citrus Research and Education Center From AgroSource, Magnolia Consulting

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