Hydrogen cyanamide induces budbreak of peaches and nectarines following inadequate chilling

Hydrogen cyanamide (Dormex) treatments were applied to 17 insufficiently chilled peach and nectarine cultivars ≈6 weeks after normal budbreak. Treatment effectively induced vegetative budbreak and reduced shoot dieback. The responses to Dormex treatments were linear, with the 2% rate being more effective than the 0 and 1% rates in most cases. Dormant deciduous fruit trees have a chilling requirement that is satisfied by ex- posure to low temperature (Samish, 1954). Chemical inducement of budbreak of insuf- ficiently chilled deciduous fruit trees is prac-