ABSTRACT
SQUARMAP is part of the full-season COTMAN monitoring program designed for use from first square to first flower. Monitoring information includes fruit retention, fruit load and plant nodal development. Statistical analysis indicates that early season plant structure is related to earliness of field cutout, with a node count difference from target of one at 40 days from planting related to an 8.8 day cutout delay. At 60 days, or target first flower, fruit retention is related to earliness. For each one percent shed in first position mainstem nodes, cutout has a delay of 1.45 days. Additional data are needed to fully test statistical relationships. Future research will focus on refining definition of target nodal development.
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