Effect of thinning time and fruit spacing on fruit maturity, yield, size, peel colour and quality attributes of peach cv. Flordasun

Abstract

In present study 12-year-old Flordasun peach trees were manual thinned at 10, 15 and 20 cm spacings along the shoot on whole tree canopy at an interval of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 days after full bloom (DAFB) to know the effect of thinning time and fruit spacing on fruit maturity, yield, fruit size, peel colour and quality attributes over two growing seasons. Earliest fruit maturity was recorded in thinning at 20 DAFB (67 days) compared to control (77 days) and linear increase in fruit spacing recorded delay in days to fruit maturity. The thinning treatments decreased the yield significantly, while and least reduction was attributed at 20 DAFB (28.82 kg/tree). The fruits thinned at 20 DAFB and spaced at 20 cm recorded enhanced fruit weight (58.09 g), fruit length and diameter (4.79 and 4.56 cm) followed by 30 DAFB with spaced at 20 cm. The fruit skin colour (L*, a* and b*) value, improved in different thinning treatments, however, fruit thinned at 20 DAFB and spaced at 20 cm followed by 15 cm were found more effective. In fruit quality, highest TSS (12.10°B); TSS: acid ratio (20.17), ascorbic acid 6.52 mg/100 g) and lowest titratable acidity (0.60%) were recorded in fruits thinned at 20 DAFS and spaced at 20 cm followed by 15 cm with maximum total sugars (6.22%) content. The best results were dedicated to thinning of Flordasun peach at 20 DAFB with fruits spaced 20 to 15 cm apart.