Stern, R.A., MIGAL, Galilee Technology Center, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
Ben-Arie, R., Fruit Storage Research Laboratory, Kiryat Shmona 10200, Israel
Applebaum, S., Kibbutz Ortal, Golan Heights 12430, Israel
Flaishman, M., Department of Fruit Trees, Institute of Horticulture, Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

The two main apple cultivars grown in the warm climate of Israel, 'Delicious' and 'Golden Delicious', produce relatively small fruits. Over four consecutive years (2001-2004), application of 10 mg l-1 N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl);N′-phenylurea (CPPU) or 50 mg l-1 benzyladenine (BA), 2 weeks after full-bloom, when fruitlet diameter was 10 mm, caused an appreciable (> 50%) and significant increase in fruit size with only slight (BA) or no (CPPU) effect on fruit thinning. We therefore conclude that the mam effect of these cytokinins was via direct stimulation of fruit cell division. Neither cytokinin had any effect on fruit shape or seed number, nor on fruit quality at harvest or in storage at 0°C, nor on return bloom or yield in the following year.