@article{vogel_phillips_clavet_kon_2024, title={Leader Bagging Improves Lateral Branching and Cropping Potential of 'Gala' and 'WA 38' Apple during Orchard Establishment}, volume={59}, ISSN={["2327-9834"]}, DOI={10.21273/HORTSCI17480-23}, abstractNote={Inadequate lateral branch development can lead to decreased apple ( Malus × domestica Borkh.) orchard productivity and profitability in modern high-density orchard systems. Although plant growth regulator applications are used to increase lateral branching on leaders of young apple trees, inconsistent responses have been observed in the southeastern United States. In North Carolina and Washington, three experiments were conducted to identify effective leader management strategies to increase lateral branching. Effects and interactions of leader bagging, 6-benzyladenine (6-BA), and 6-BA + gibberellic acid (GA 4+7 ) on lateral branch development of 1-year-old leaders were evaluated. Across all experiments, leader bagging was an influential factor. When compared with unbagged trees, leader bagging increased lateral branch number (20% to 48%), number of feathers (74% to 125%), average branch length (28% to 34%), and total linear bearing surface (428%) of the treated section of the leader. Blossom cluster density and final fruit set were increased in bagged trees, 65% and 36%, respectively. At the rates and timings tested, 6-BA and 6-BA + GA 4+7 were generally ineffective in stimulating lateral branching and interactions among the factors evaluated were not influential. Leader bagging was an effective lateral branch induction strategy, although the mechanism of action is poorly understood. Future research to characterize the bagged environment and/or physiological responses to bagging may aid in the development of future environmentally sustainable technologies to stimulate lateral branching of apple trees.}, number={6}, journal={HORTSCIENCE}, author={Vogel, Annie R. and Phillips, Byron and Clavet, Christopher D. and Kon, Thomas M.}, year={2024}, month={Jun}, pages={833–839} }
 @article{vogel_iersel_seymour_forman_gulle_macintyre_hickey_2022, title={Prediction of Grape Berry Temperature Using Wireless Dataloggers Contained Within a Grape Mimic}, volume={32}, ISSN={["1943-7714"]}, DOI={10.21273/HORTTECH05044-22}, abstractNote={Fruit zone leaf removal effects on grapevine (Vitis sp.) productivity and fruit quality have been widely researched. Many fruit zone leaf removal studies state that grape temperature influences grape composition; however, few studies have quantified grape berry temperature fluctuations over time, likely because of technical challenges. An efficient, simple, and economical way to estimate grape berry temperature would be valuable for researchers and industry. Consistent quantification of grape temperature would allow researchers to compare the effects of leaf removal on grape composition across varying climates and regions. A cost-effective means to quantify berry temperature would also provide industry members site-specific information on berry temperature patterns and guide leaf removal practice. Our goals were to develop a method and model to estimate berry temperature based on air temperature and berry mimics, thereby precluding the need to measure solar radiation or obtain expensive equipment. We evaluated the ability of wireless temperature sensors, submerged in various volumes of water within black or white balloons, to predict berry temperature. Treatments included 0-, 10-, 30-, 50-, and 70-mL volumes of deionized water in black and white balloons and a clear plastic bag with no water. Regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between sensor-logged temperatures and ‘Camminare noir’ berry temperatures recorded with hypodermic thermocouples. Nighttime berry temperatures were close to air temperature in all treatments. Using a piecewise regression model, the 30-mL white- and 30-mL black-balloon treatments predicted berry temperature with the greatest accuracy (R2 = 0.98 and 0.96, respectively). However, during daytime hours only, the 30-mL white-balloon treatment (R2 = 0.91) was more effective at estimating temperature than the 30-mL black-balloon treatment (R2 = 0.78). Housing temperature sensors in balloons proved to be an accurate, practical, and cost-effective solution to estimate berry temperature. Further refinement of this method in different regions, row orientations, training systems, and cultivars is necessary to determine applicability of this approach under a wide range of conditions.}, number={6}, journal={HORTTECHNOLOGY}, author={Vogel, Annie R. and Iersel, Marc W. van and Seymour, Lynne and Forman, Brett and Gulle, Jordyn and MacIntyre, Chloe and Hickey, Cain C.}, year={2022}, month={Dec}, pages={534–541} }