Elucidation of the growth characteristics of "Hijoutou" peach [Prunus persica], and stable production technique through the management of fruiting

Studies were conducted to elucidate the growth characteristics in the culture of "Hijoutou" peach introduced from shantung province, China At the same time, the Management technique of fruiting to realize stable production of high quality hits and the technique to judge the optimum harvesting time were also investigated. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The peaks of flowering and harvesting were April 11 and September 11, respectively. The days of ripening were 163. Therefore, it was a very late variety in comparison with the group of Japanese varieties. And besides, the habit of alternate bearing was found in it as well. 2. As for the fruit quality, the average fruit weight was 320g and the average Brix was 15 degrees. However, the Brix values scattered largely within a tree and among the parts of fruits. The fruit shape was full round and the fruit apex was slightly acute. The sulci in peduncle parts were deep, the fruit color was pale yellow green and the suture was deep, the peel was slightly thick,had a lot of pubescence on it and had aroma. The flesh was semi-nonmelting, fine in texture and juicy. 3. It was shown that the density of bearing shoots at the time of winter pruning should be kept at a rather higher level, i.e. about 15-20/square meter,in order to secure fruit bearing, and fruit thinning to less than 10 fruits/square meter should be done in the period from late in June until one month before harvest in order to produce high quality fruits. In addition, rising of Brix and ensuring of well-developed flower buds could be expected when the exposure of fruits to the sun was improved by the several splitted summer pruning conducted during from early in July to early in August. 4. The peel color changed from yellow green to pale yellow green after 2 weeks before maturity and the Brix value rose as the color changed, while the hardness of fruits reduced