Multilocation analysis of ATS and BA thinning efficacy on 'golden delicious'

The reduced availability of active ingredients for chemical thinning in the European Union countries and the introduction of new apple cultivars with special thinning requirements prompted the EUFRIN Working Group on Chemical Thinning to test new strategies and chemicals that have low environmental impact. The approach was to find alternatives to the traditional thinning chemicals, which are already banned in some countries (i.e. carbaryl) or may be in the near future, because of the high cost of re-registration (i.e. auxin). The goal of this working group of European scientists has been to conduct field trials using common protocols. Results on the effects of BA, NAA and ATS are discussed here.