| The effect of foliar boron treatments on fruit growth and seed development in Actinidia deliciosa, cv. Hayward, was studied. The distal leaves (BH) or fowers (BF) of a shoot were sprayed with 500 mg L-1 boric acid during the fowering period. The mobility of boron from the leaves to the fowers through the phloem was determined by spraying only the leaves. From 0 to 96 h after treatment, leaves and fowers were sampled and total boron was assessed. At harvest time, fruit weight and diameter plus seed weight and number were measured for the different treatments. The weight of fruits growing from shoots with boron-treated leaves were 14.1% higher than the control, while the weight of fruits derived from boron-treated fowers was 17% higher than that of fruits... |
