Crop loading studies with ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘Braeburn’ apples: Effect of time and level of hand thinning
Year: 1996
Type: article
Abstract: The effects of time and level (fruit number/tree) of hand thinning on fruit size were investigated for ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘Braeburn’ apple ( Malus domestica (Borkh.)) trees growing on dwarfing rootstocks. Early thinning resulted in larger fruit at harvest in three separate experiments whereas the number of fruit per tree had a significant influence on mean fruit weight in only one experiment. Compared to thinning at full bloom (FB), mean fruit weight of ‘Royal Gala’ at harvest was reduced by 16% when thinning was delayed by 3–4 weeks after full bloom (WAFB), with a much smaller decrease in weight with further delay. ‘Braeburn’ gave the opposite pattern, with the greatest loss in mean fruit size at harvest being recorded when thinning was delayed by 8 WAFB. Thinning 4 or 8 WAFB resulted in a 17% decrease in leaf area per tree of ‘Royal Gala’ compared to thinning at FB, whereas laterthinning of ‘Braeburn’ reduced leaf area per tree by 6% per 4 weeks delay in thinning. Removal of fruit from ‘Braeburn’ spurs at FB reduced spur leaf size, king flower receptacle diameter/dry weight, and bourse shoot length on that spur in the year after treatment compared to removal at a later time.
Authors: S. McArtney, J. W. Palmer, H. M. Adams
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2031975069