ISHS Acta Horticulturae 557: VII International Symposium on Orchard and Plantation Systems
THE EFFECT OF PRUNING LEVEL AND TIMING ON FRUIT QUALITY IN RED ‘FUJI’ APPLE |
| Authors: | S.A. Bound, C.R. Summers |
| Keywords: | crop load, russet, Malus domestica, weight, shape, firmness, sugar content |
| Abstract:
A pruning trial was conducted to examine the effect of pruning on fruit quality and russet incidence on the russet susceptible Naga Fu No. 2 selection of red ‘Fuji’. Trees were pruned to one of three levels: lightly pruned, moderately pruned (to current commercial recommendations for Tasmania), or severely pruned. Trees were pruned either in winter while dormant, or in spring after fruit set. A split plot design was used where half the trees were summer pruned four weeks before harvest to remove excess vegetative growth and allow more light to reach the fruit. Crop load was reduced with increasing severity of pruning. Mean fruit weight and diameter were correlated with crop load, the lower the crop load the greater the increase in both fruit weight and diameter. Time of pruning had no effect on either fruit weight or diameter, however summer pruned trees produced smaller fruit than non summer pruned. Fruit length/diameter (L/D) ratio was highest in the severe winter pruned treatment, with summer pruning resulting in a significant reduction in L/D ratios. Fruit soluble solids content (TSS) was higher in the winter pruned treatments than the spring pruned. Summer pruning reduced TSS but had no effect on fruit firmness. There was no difference in the level of fruit russeting between pruning levels. Winter pruned trees produced a higher percentage of marketable fruit than spring pruned trees, while summer pruning increased the number of reject fruit. | |
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