T. Stockert et R. Stosser, IMAGE-ANALYSIS INVESTIGATIONS ON FLOWER Q UALITY IN APPLE (MALUS-DOMESTICA L), Gartenbauwissenschaft, 62(1), 1997, pp. 38-44
In the varieties 'Boskoop' and 'Golden Delicious' flower quality was i
nfluenced by different treatments: Normal harvest, Early harvest, Debl
ossomed, Defoliated, Urea sprays. The receptacles ofin this way manipu
lated flower buds were Investigated with morphometric and densitometri
c methods, using image analysis: Diameter of receptacle, area and nume
rical density of cells and nuclei and DNA-content of nuclei. The treat
ments Deblossomed, Early harvest and Urea sprays promoted flower quali
ty while Defoliation inhibited it. The effect of the different treatme
nts could generally be explained by cell division and cell elongation
processes in the receptacle. Concerning flower quality the status of d
evelopment of the flower bud in late fall is of decisive importance.