October 2022 - 11

Dropping protective nets during early bloom can prevent pollinators from continuing their work, resulting in reduced fruit set that might eliminate the need for hand or chemical
thinning for multiple varieties. Photos: Gary Pullano
Netting on fruit trees curbs thinning needs
By Gary Pullano
Senior Correspondent
Results from six years of evaluation by
tree fruit researchers have demonstrated
that insect exclusion netting can be used to
reduce or eliminate apple thinning.
Preliminary findings of the work were
presented July 28 as Michigan Pomesters
presented its 11th annual Ridgefest field
day, touring research trials at Michigan
State University's (MSU) Clarksville
Research Center.
MSU tree fruit physiologist Todd
Einhorn outlined a series of projects
that explore thinning and crop load
management issues.
" We've been doing a lot of work on
netting and some of the really interesting
biology that we're seeing in terms of tree
response to netting, " Einhorn said. " (This
includes) the use of insect exclusion antihail
nets to reduce fruit set and ultimately
mitigate your thinning needs. "
Researcher Mokhles Elsysy has worked
with Einhorn to evaluate the feasibility
of using nets to manage crop load by
excluding pollinators.
" Enclosing canopies with insect
exclusion netting will produce a range of
crop loads, depending on the percentage
of open bloom accessible to pollinators
prior to the time of canopy enclosure, that
results in optimum crop loads that do
not require thinning, " Elsysy told those
attending the field day.
" Fruit from early net enclosure timings
(pink and less than 20% of king bloom)
have markedly fewer seeds than later
timings or control but similar fruit weight
and symmetry, " Elsysy said. " Fruit set
responses, however, vary widely among
cultivars. Fuji and Gala can be netted at less
than 40% king bloom, while Honeycrisp
requires a greater percentage of open king
bloom (at least 75%) prior to netting).
Using protective nets during early bloom
can prevent pollinators from continuing
their work, resulting in reduced fruit set
that might eliminate the need for hand or
See NETTING, page 12
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FGN | OCTOBER 2022 | 11

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October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2022

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