La temperatura como factor limitante en el cultivo del manzano en la América Tropical

Abstract

The paper presents a review of temperature limitations on the growth and fruitfulness of the apple in warm climates, and reports on observations made by the author in Ecuador, Central America and Mexico. It is concluded that temperature seasonality is a more important consideration than daily mean temperature in permitting normal seasonal vegetation and fruit development by apple trees. Where temperature seasonality is minimal, as in the highland tropics, winter dry season and cloud-bank formations may substitute to some extent for cumulative effects of air temperatures below 45°F, but some temperature seasonality has to prevail. At elevations above 10,000 feet in the tropics, variability of warm temperatures during the growing season may be as important a limiting factor as lack of winter chilling. Chemical treatments to promote breaking of the rest are apparently effective only after the buds have been subjected to considerable chilling.