How can Accede® Plant Growth Regulator help peach and nectarine growers?
Nectarine and peach growers generate income by consistently delivering large, top-quality fruit. However, achieving those standards isn’t easy. Growers face a host of challenges, including the environment, economics, traceability, food safety, and labor shortages. Plant growth regulators are among the most valuable tools available to help growers maintain profitability in the face of such challenges. For growers, Accede Plant Growth Regulator is a novel biorational solution that can save costs and reduce labor needs while increasing fruit quality.
What is Accede?
Accede is a biorational plant growth regulator ideal for thinning peaches, nectarines, and apples. It is registered in the U.S. and contains 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), a naturally occurring substance responsible for the biosynthesis of ethylene production in plants. The ethylene generated after application of Accede stimulates and accelerates flower and fruit drop in peaches, nectarines, and apple.
For more information on the mode of action, watch this presentation from Dr. Poliana Francescatto hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Figure 1 The active ingredient in Accede (ACC) stimulates ethylene production in plants.
What are the benefits of Accede on nectarines and peaches?
Most stone fruit, including peaches and nectarines, benefit from thinning. Hand thinning of fruit has been the most common crop load management tool for stone fruit growers. However, the labor cost for hand thinning has become one of the greatest expenses in stone fruit production.
For peach and nectarine growers in the U.S., Accede is the first-ever commercially available thinner that is based on a naturally occurring compound. It helps growers reduce the need for hand thinning labor and improves fruit size and quality, increasing return on investment. Accede may also help ease harvest management by allowing for earlier and fewer harvests.
Figure 2 Hand thinned fruit on the ground under untreated (left) and Accede treated (right) peach trees. Because Accede was used to thin flowers at bloom, less fruit needed to be thinned from the treated trees, saving the grower time and money that would otherwise be used for hand thinning.
How do I use Accede on nectarines and peaches?
Accede can be applied from pink bud to early petal fall in a single or double application, depending on variety.* Thinning flowers rather than fruit allows the tree to conserve more nutrients and carbohydrates and support the remaining fruit better.
For optimal response, a high-quality non-ionic surfactant could be added in the spray tank with Accede.
Always read and follow label instructions prior to any application.
*Accede is currently not approved for post bloom applications.
Figure 3 Accede can be applied in a single or double application from pink bud to early petal fall.
What should I expect after I apply Accede?
Accede will not eliminate hand thinning but will reduce the amount of labor needed (Figure 2).
Once Accede is applied, petal drop and flower senescence will accelerate (Figure 4). Flowers will start falling or drying as early as 4 to 7 days following applications and may continue for several more days (Figure 5).
Figure 4 Untreated (left) and Accede treated (right) peach flowers showing accelerated (A) petal drop 3 days after application and (B) flower senescence 6 days after application.
Figure 5 Thinning effect of Accede.
Based on the results of 2022 commercial trials in the U.S. on peach and nectarines, Accede can reduce fruit set by an average of 40% (Figure 5). Sensitivity to ACC varies by variety. Speak to your local representative to discuss the benefits for your orchard.
Figure 6 In the U.S., Accede has been shown to reduce fruit set in peaches and nectarines by an average of 40%.
What else should I know?
For optimal performance of Accede, there are a few things that should be taken into consideration before applying the product.
- The rate of Accede will depend on the amount of fruit thinning required.
- Product performance can be impacted by factors such as cultivar, prevailing and anticipated climatic conditions, tree vigor, fruit set potential, and orchard history.
- Do not apply Accede when frost is expected as overthinning may occur.
- Do not apply Accede to injured or stressed plants or fruits. Types of stress may include drought stress, freeze injury, girdled trees, root pruning, and more.
For more information, consult the U.S. Accede label or speak to your local representative.
