The Birth Of King Maker
At the top of the list for game-changing opportunities was the unmet need facing the apple industry, particularly production of the world's top-selling variety, Red Delicious, which dominated global apple production in the mid-1970s. These apples are characterized by "typiness," the elongated shape and prominent calyx lobes for which the variety is known. In Red Delicious apples, typiness is the key quality indicator. Consumer preferences dictate that the more "typy" the Red Delicious, the better.
The challenge with Red Delicious was that without cool nights during bloom, typiness (and fruit grade) would lag. Not only did this challenge affect apple production when a typical climatic conditions occurred, but it compromised crop quality in major apple-growing regions such as Asia, South Africa, and Australia, where cold winters and cool nights during bloom were less frequent.
When it was confirmed that Gibberellic acid and the cytokinin 6-Benzyladenine (6-Benzylaminopurine) each had a positive effect on size and typiness, and that the effect was more pronounced when the two compounds were used in combination, developing a new PGR product for Red Delicious producers became a top priority.
The first registration for Promalin® was granted in the U.S. in 1978, and in the ensuing years, Promalin® became widely adopted around the world, changing the game for apple growers in every major apple-producing region.
Developed initially to promote typiness on Red Delicious apples, Promalin® helps to increase fruit size and weight in all apple varieties that proved to be significant for achieving higher ROI to the grower.
