A METHOD OF INHIBITING FRUIT SET ON FRUIT PRODUCING PLANTS USING AN AQUEOUS EMULSION OF EICOSENYL EICOSENOATE AND DOCOSENYL EICOSENOATE

摘要

A new fruit thinning agent comprising wax esters derived from esterification of monoethylenic acids and monoethylenic alcohols having between 18 and 24 carbons and a surfactant, or a combination of surfactants, said wax esters and surfactant at a concentration of between 1 % v/v and 7 % v/v of the total wax ester emulsion. Further, the invention provides a method of inhibiting fruit set for a fruit producing plant wherein the method comprises spraying an aqueous emulsion of a wax ester, or a mixture of wax esters, onto a fruit producing plant between the time of first bloom and the date of maximum fruit set, said emulsion in an amount to decrease fruit set by at least 10 %.