Alternative budburst inducers for kiwifruit vines grown in an organic system

Abstract Lack of budburst inducers is a major problem in organic production of temperate fruits. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of alternative budburst inducers on kiwifruit vines of cultivar Bruno grown in an orchard in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. Inducers efficiency was investigated in both 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons. The first season comprised of ten treatments, which used garlic extract at different concentrations, both, associated with and without mineral oil; Welsh onion extract at different concentrations, both associated with and without mineral oil; just mineral oil; and control (no application). In the second season, evaluation was carried out ith treatments that performed well in the first season, garlic extract atdifferent concentrations associated with mineral oil, just mineral oil and control. The followingvariables were evaluated: budburst percentage, phenology (budburst and flowering), fruit set, number of fruit/plant, fruit mass/ plant, estimate production, mean mass, fruit length and diameter. Results showed that 10% garlic extract + 2% mineral oil induced the highest budburst percentages in both seasons; the position of buds on branches influences budburst; apical buds exhibit the highest budburst percentage; 15% garlic extract causes phytotoxicity to buds; and Welsh onion extract is inefficient to induce budburst.