Apogee is a plant growth regulator from BASF that company representatives say can help apple growers improve the quality of their crop, increase yield and save labor.
Using Apogee, growers can better control their management of vegetative growth in their orchards. It allows them better control of fire blight in shoots. And BASF says that because growers can have better control of vegetative grown in their orchards they can also cut the time and money they spend on pruning.
Fire blight is caused by a bacteria and can kill blossoms, shoots and limbs. Sometimes the disease can even kill whole trees. According to N.C. State University plant pathologists D.F. Ritchie and T.B. Sutton blossom blight is usually the first symptoms in spring. Blossoms affected with blossom blight "will appear water-soaked, wilted and finally turn brown to black," say the researchers.
Apogee works by inhibiting biosynthesis of gibberellin. The product is also labeled for use in peanuts and in grass that is grown for seed. In peanuts the product reduces canopy growth which can make harvesting easier and efficient. It also increases peg strength.
In grass grown for seed the product reduces lodging and internodal growth.
For more information on fire blight, check out Fire Blight of Apple and Pear, an information note from N.C. State University, available from your local extension agent or online at www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/oldnotes/fd3.htm.
Discover more about Apogee online by going to www.agproducts.basf.com/ and following the Ag Product Quick Link.