Incidence of the initial fruit loads on yield and fruit quality in peach cv. Bowen

摘要

In order to determine the incidence of the initial fruit loads on yield and quality, peach trees cv. Bowen from two consecutive seasons, 1993/94 and 1994/95 were studied. Initial fruit load four weeks after full bloom in the first season ranged from5,400 to 7,200 fruits per tree, while in the second season it ranged from 2,100 to 2,500 fruits per tree. Thinning was performed 78 days after full bloom, in both seasons, and the fruit load was between 750 to 1,350 fruits per tree and 850 to 1,450 fruits per tree in the years of high and light initial fruit loads respectively. Natural fruit drop, which took place between the fourth week after full bloom and harvest time, was of 57 percent in the first season and of 35 percent in the second season. A high correlation was found in both seasons between fruit load, total yield and yield of fruits to be halved for industrial proposes. However fruit load and fruit weight were significantly correlated only in the season of high initial fruit load. Fruit size, total yield and yield of fruit to be halved for industry were higher in the light initial fruit load season. Yield of fruit to be halved for industry showed the maximum difference due to the increase of fruit size and to a better size distribution.