ISHS Acta Horticulturae 254: II International Peach Symposium
FRUIT DOUBLING OF PEACHES AS AFFECTED BY WATER STRESS |
| Authors: | K. Patten, G. Nimr, E. Neuendorff |
| Abstract:
Several cultivars of peaches have a propensity for the formation of double ("twin") fruit. The occurrence of doubles in cherry fruit has been related to high temperature during flower bud differentiation, however there is little data on environmental factors affecting doubling of peaches. A study was initiated to determine the influence of water stress during flower bud differentiation on the formation of double fruit. Three-year-old 'Harvester' and 'Loring' peach tree on a loamy sand soil were subjected to either drought stress conditions (less than 17 cm rainfall from July to Sept., or non stress conditions (60 liters/tree/day). Average daily potential evapotranspiration (penman) during August was 0.8 cm. Percentage of double fruit was recorded on ten whole tree replications per cultivar. Preliminary data after 1 year indicate that drought stress increased the incidence of double fruit from 9% to 21% on both cultivars. | |
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