Melatonin and Gibberellin Employing to Mitigate Heat Stress Effects on “Canino” Apricot

Abstract

The fruit yield of apricot trees may decrease as a result of temperature stress. Through improving growth, productivity, and fruit quality, some compounds may play a significant part in resolving that issue. Therefore, this study was conducted during two successive growing seasons (2017 and 2018) in order to lessen the effects of heat stress on the production and fruit quality of Canino apricot trees cultivated on the farm of the Horticulture Research Station at El Kanater El Khayreia, Egypt, by foliar spray of hormonal substances and antioxidants i.e. (melatonin “MEL” or gibberellic acid” GA3 “each at concentration (25 mg/L) at pre-dormancy stage. It could be concluded that spraying Canino apricot trees at pre-dormancy stage (August) with both of GA3 and MEL enhanced the vegetative growth, as well as it improved flower quality compared with untreated control during the two cultivated seasons, also, melatonin improved growth and fruit set, yield, and fruit quality, followed by gibberellic acid compared with Control.