ISHS Acta Horticulturae 581: IV International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FRUIT THINNING AND IRRIGATION ON DETERMINING FRUIT QUALITY OF CACTUS PEAR (OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA) FRUITS |
| Authors: | G. Gugliuzza, P. Inglese, V. Farina |
| Keywords: | water deficit, cladode fertility, fruit growth |
| Abstract:
The effect of irrigation and cladode fruit load on fruit characteristics was studied in a split-plot design, on mature trees of O. ficus-indica cv. ‘Gialla’ cultivated for summer production. Irrigation increased fruit fresh weight and the number of export-size fruits, only at the lowest fruit load (6 fruit for cladode). Fruits from cladode thinned from 15 to 6 fruits reached the same size of fruits grown in cladodes with a natural crop load of 6 fruits, while fruits grown on cladode with a crop load of 15 fruits attained the same size o thinned fruits only in the irrigated plot. Thinning increased the percentage of export-size fruit both in irrigated and non irrigated trees. An interaction between irrigation and crop load was demonstrated. Total soluble solids, fresh firmness and percent flesh were not affected by thinning or irrigation. | |
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