Effects of fruit thinning timing and different complementary cultural practices on yield and fruit quality of 'Springcrest' peach cultivar grown in the northeast of the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Valentini, G.; Arroyo, L.

Effects of fruit thinning timing and different complementary cultural practices on yield and fruit quality of 'Springcrest' peach cultivar grown in the northeast of the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

2002

Valentini, G. | Arroyo, L.

‘Springcrest' covers an important period in the regional peach season, but its good performance is not supplemented by a satisfactory fruit size. An experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of different cultural practices on fruit quality, yield and crop distribution. The treatments consisted in the use; alone or combined, of flower thinning, conventional fruit thinning (Control), girdling and 2,4 diclorophenoxypropionic acid butilglycolic ester (2,4-DP). The evaluated variables were yield, fruit weight, percentage distribution of fruit size and for each harvest, skin color, overcolor percentage, total soluble solids content (TSS), flesh firmness and titratable acidity. Those treatments which included flower thinning affected yield negatively. Girdling appears as a factor that softens these effects. Only conventional fruit thinning did not increase the fruit percentage harvested the first time. A positive effect on fruit size was observed in all treatments in comparison to the control. The application of 2,4 DP did not harm the yield in comparison with the control but it affected acidity and TSS. No treatment affected the color of the fruits.

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