Fruit thinning enhances yield and quality of local apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkha usen) var. Gaja in Pakistan
2020
Rehman, N. | Latif, A. | Hashim, M.M. | Khan, A.A. | Gillani, S.G. | Khan, H.U. | Ali, M.
The apple tree usually has heavy fruit set but to improve the individual fruit size, apple growers reduce the number of fruits by thinning. The present study was carried out to assess yield and quality of apple fruit as influenced by fruit thinning. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with two factors, viz. time of thinning (factor 1) and amount of thinning (factor 2). Factor 1 included thinning after 2 wk of fruit set; Factor 2 included one fruit per cluster, two fruits per cluster, three fruits per cluster, and four fruits per cluster. Each treatment was replicated three times. The indigenous apple germplasm Gaja was selected for the experiment. Fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit weight, fruit color, total soluble solids (TSS), and fruit pH were significantly improved by fruit thinning intensity while total yield, fruit drop percent, number of fruits per kg and fruit firmness were reduced by increasing thinning intensity. Leaving 2-3 fruits per cluster not only improved the fruit size (diameter and length) but also gave maximum economic return.
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