scholarly journals Crop Load Influences Fruit Quality, Nutritional Balance, and Return Bloom in ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple

HortScience ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Serra ◽  
Rachel Leisso ◽  
Luca Giordani ◽  
Lee Kalcsits ◽  
Stefano Musacchi
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Postharvest Quality ◽  
Soluble Solid Content ◽  
Crop Load ◽  
Apple Variety ◽  
Return Bloom ◽  
The Impact

The apple variety, ‘Honeycrisp’ has been extensively planted in North America during the last two decades. However, it suffers from several agronomic problems that limit productivity and postharvest quality. To reduce losses, new information is needed to better describe the impact of crop load on productivity and postharvest fruit quality in a desert environment and the major region where ‘Honeycrisp’ expansion is occurring. Here, 7-year-old ‘Honeycrisp’ trees on the M9-Nic29 rootstock (2.5 × 0.9 m) were hand thinned to five different crop loads [from 4.7 to 16.0 fruit/cm2 of trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA)] to compare fruit quality, maturity, fruit size, elemental concentration, and return bloom. Fruit size distribution was affected by crop load. Trees with the highest crop load (16 fruit/cm2) produced smaller fruit. Index of absorbance difference (IAD) measurements (absorption difference between 670 and 720 nm), a proxy indicator of the chlorophyll content below the skin of fruit measured by a DA-meter, were made shortly after harvest (T0) and after 6 months of storage (T1). Fruit from the trees with the lowest crop load had lower IAD values indicating advanced fruit ripeness. The comparison between the IAD classes at T0 and T1 showed that fruit belonging to the lowest IAD class had significantly higher red-blushed overcolor percentage, firmness, dry matter, and soluble solid content than those in the “most unripe” class (highest IAD readings) regardless of crop load. The percentage of blushed color, firmness, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids content, and dry matter were all higher in the lowest crop loads at both T0 and T1. Fruit calcium (Ca) concentration was lowest at the lowest crop load. The (K + Mg + N):Ca ratio decreased as crop load increased until a crop load of 11.3 fruit/cm2, which was not significantly different from higher crop loads. For return bloom, the highest number of flower clusters per tree was reported for 4.7 fruit/cm2 crop load, and generally it decreased as crop load increased. Here, we highlight the corresponding changes in fruit quality, storability, and elemental balance with tree crop load. To maintain high fruit quality and consistency in yield, careful crop load management is required to minimize bienniality and improve fruit quality and storability.

Interaction Between CPPU and NAA on Fruit Thinning and Fruit Development in Selected Apple Cultivars

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 513c-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin J. Bukovac ◽  
Jerome Hull ◽  
John C. Neilsen ◽  
Michael Schroeder ◽  
Georg Noga
Keyword(s):  
Total Yield ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Frost Damage ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Crop Load ◽  
Fruit Thinning ◽  
Carpel Development ◽  
Return Bloom

NAA is used extensively for fruit thinning of apples to increase fruit size and to promote return bloom. In some cultivars, even if thinning is achieved, fruit size at harvest may be less than expected based on crop load. CPPU, N-(2-chloro-4-pyridinyl)-N.-phenylurea, has been shown to increase fruit growth in apples, grapes, and kiwi. We evaluated combinations of NAA and CPPU on thinning, fruit growth and return bloom in Redchief `Delicious', `Elstar', and `Gloster'. CPPU was applied at 5 mgμL–1 (based on 0 to 10 mgμL–1 response curve) in combination with 15 mgμL–1 NAA as high-volume sprays at 7 to 10 mm KFD. Yield and fruit size distribution (on total yield) were used as index of response. In `Delicious', CPPU (3-year study) increased % large (70 mm+) fruit, but in the presence of NAA % large fruit was reduced 2 of the 3 years. CPPU did not induce significant thinning. There were no significant effects on color or soluble solids; firmness was increased slightly and seed number reduced. The L/D ratio was increased and uneven lobe and carpel development was common. CPPU had no significant effect on return bloom in presence or absence of NAA, but NAA increased bloom in both the presence and absence of CPPU. With `Elstar' (2-year study) there was no significant thinning with either chemical, but CPPU increased mean fruit size and % large (70–80 mm) fruit over nonthinned, but not significantly greater than NAA alone. There were no significant differences in firmness, color, soluble solids or seed number. NAA + CPPU did not inhibit fruit growth or cause excessive uneven carpel development. Frost damage reduced crop load in `Gloster' where results were similar to `Elstar' except seed number was reduced by the NAA + CPPU combination.

scholarly journals QUALIDADE E PRODUTIVIDADE DE FRUTOS DE FIGO CULTIVADO EM TRÊS DENSIDADES DE PLANTIO

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 161-166
Author(s):  
Scheila Lucia Ecker ◽  
Clevison Luiz Giacobbo ◽  
Leandro Galon ◽  
Adriana Lugaresi ◽  
Gian Carlos Girardi
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fig Tree

The objective of this work was to verify the influence of planting density on productivity and fruit quality of the fig tree. The design was used in three blocks, the plants of the cultivar Roxo de Valinhos were submitted to three planting spacings: 5 x 0.5 m; 5 x 1.0 m; and 5 x 1.5 m. The evaluated characteristics were: length of branches; average weekly growth of branches; fruit size; average fruit weight;soluble solids (°Brix); yield of mature fruits; productivity of green fruits; accumulated productivity; and dry mass of fruits.The length of the branches was not influenced by planting spacing, the plants conducted at lower densities presented higher productivity, both of green fruits and accumulated productivity.Plants submitted to lower planting density produced fruits with higher dry matter, but these were smaller in size, but without significant difference for those submitted to lower density. It wasconcluded that productivity is directly affected by fig planting density, but not all the qualitative aspects of the fruits were affected.

scholarly journals (463) Grapefruit Crop Load Affects Net Gas Exchange of Leaves, Tree Growth, and Fruit Quality

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1048A-1048
Author(s):  
Kuo-Tan Li ◽  
Jim Syvertsen ◽  
Jill Dunlop
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Fruit Shape ◽  
Solid Content ◽  
Soluble Solid Content ◽  
Citrus Paradisi ◽  
Fruit Removal ◽  
Crop Load ◽  
Four Levels

Effects of crop load on leaf characteristics, shoot growth, fruit shape, fruit quality, and return bloom were investigated in 13-year-old `Ruby Red' grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) on `Swingle' citrumleo rootstock. Trees were hand thinned in June 2003 and 2004 at the end of physiological fruit drop to establish three to four levels of crop load ranging from normal (high crop load without thinning) to extremely low (near 90% fruit removal). Leaves on high crop load trees had higher net assimilation of CO2 (ACO2) than those on low crop load trees. Crop load enhancement of ACO2 continued until harvest. In 2004, however, the effects were diminished in October just prior to the beginning of the harvest season, after leaf and fruit loss from three consecutive hurricanes. There was no difference in leaf dry weight per leaf area and leaf nitrogen among treatments. Nonfruiting branches of high crop load trees produced fewer, but longer, summer flushes than those of low crop load trees. Fruiting branches generally produced few summer flushes with similar shoot lengths among treatments. High crop load trees developed a greater percentage of vegetative shoots, whereas low crop load trees developed more inflorescences. Crop load adjustments did not affect fruit size and total soluble solid content, but low crop load trees produced a higher percentage of irregular shape (sheepnosed) fruit with high acidity.

scholarly journals Crop Load, Fruit Thinning and their Effects on Fruit Quality of Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.)

2006 ◽  
pp. 29-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
József Racskó
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Flower Initiation ◽  
Pome Fruit ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Crop Load ◽  
Fruit Thinning ◽  
Return Bloom ◽  
Tree Leaf

Crop load, a quantitative parameter used by industry, is generally defined as the number of fruit per tree. It is often expressed in terms of number of fruit per trunk cross-sectional area (fruit/TCSA). Crop load is the most important of all factors that influence fruit size, and the removing of a part of the crop is the most effective way to improve fruit size.The potential size of a given pome fruit is determined early in the season and growth proceeds at a relatively uniform rate thereafter. This uniform growth rate permits the accurate prediction of the harvest size of the fruit as early as mid-summer. The growth rate, once established, is not easily altered, and fruit numbers, therefore, can affect fruit size only within definite limits and maximum effectiveness requires adjustment in fruit numbers relatively early in the season. It was established, that „thinning does not change a potentially small fruit into a large fruit, but rather insures that a potentially large fruit will size properly.” Emphasis should be on estimating fruit numbers rather than fruit size.Fruit thinning can quickly reach the point of diminishing returns. Rather than a high percentage of large fruits, the objectives of thinning should be the elimination of the smallest fruits, improved fruit quality and annual production. Fruit thinning is accomplished by hand or chemical thinning. Chemical thinners are separated into categories as bloom thinners and post-bloom thinners. Early removal of potential fruit (blossom thinning) is currently used in many apple producing areas to enhance flower initiation for next year’s crop and thus, return bloom. It also results in reduced competition for photosynthates. Blossom thinners usually have a caustic effect on floral parts.The amount of fruit left on a tree should be determined by the vigor and general condition of the tree. Leaf area per fruit affects the number of spurs flowering the following season. It can be difficult to separate timing and fruit number effects in crop loading studies, as abscission rates after hand thinning of retained flowers/fruitlets tend to very with the time of hand thinning.

scholarly journals Effects of Aculus schlechtendali (Acari: Eriophyidae) population densities on Golden Delicious apple production

Acarologia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (Suppl) ◽  
pp. 134-144
Author(s):  
Sauro Simoni ◽  
Gino Angeli ◽  
Mario Baldessari ◽  
Carlo Duso
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Yield Efficiency ◽  
Golden Delicious ◽  
Return Bloom ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Aculus Schlechtendali

Field trials were carried out in order to evaluate the seasonal abundance and the impact on yields of the Apple Rust Mite (ARM) Aculus schlechtendali (Acari: Eriophyidae) in an experimental fruit orchard located in northern Italy (Trentino region). The effect of ARM on yield and market quality parameters were assessed on Golden Delicious apple fruits. Fruit size, fruit weight, round colour hue, presence of russet as well as inside quality, i.e. soluble solids, acidity and Perlim index, were evaluated over two seasons considering three population levels of ARM that were determined applying different pesticide strategies. Effects of rust mites on return bloom and yield efficiency were also evaluated. ARM seasonal abundance showed a peak in mid-summer. Relationships between ARM and predatory mites were weak. Moderate to high ARM densities affected fruits size, fruit weight, and round colour hue of Golden Delicious fruits. In contrast, ARM populations did not affect russet on fruits, return bloom and yield efficiency. Additional studies were conducted in the laboratory, on detached Golden Delicious apple leaves, to evaluate the potential for population increase at temperatures close to those recorded in field conditions. These studies evidenced a high potential for population increase.

Bio-regulators improve fruit size and c olour and reduce crop-load and annual bearing of Honeycrisp™ apples

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-455
Author(s):  
C. G. Embree ◽  
D. S. Nichols
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Malus Domestica ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Fruit Colour ◽  
Full Bloom ◽  
Crop Load ◽  
Fruit Thinning ◽  
Colour Category ◽  
Return Bloom

Honeycrisp™ [Malus × domestica (L.) Borkh.] can be a very profitable cultivar if fruit quality is high. Some crop-load bio-regulators were evaluated for improving fruit quality and annual flowering. Ammonium thiosulphate applied at full bloom reduced crop-load, increased fruit weight, fruit colour and return bloom. Fruitone N® combined with Sevin XLR® reduced the percent of fruit in the 40–60% colour category and also crop-load. Fruitone N® alone reduced crop-load. Key words: Honeycrisp™, fruit thinning, crop-load, return bloom

scholarly journals A Special Summer Pruning Method Significantly Increases Fruit Weight, Ascorbic Acid, and Dry Matter of Kiwifruit (‘Jinyan’, Actinidia eriantha × A. chinensis)

HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1698-1702
Author(s):  
Guang-Lian Liao ◽  
Xiao-Biao Xu ◽  
Qing Liu ◽  
Min Zhong ◽  
Chun-Hui Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Soluble Sugar ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Practical Method ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Financial Loss ◽  
Significant Difference

Jinyan (Actinidia eriantha × A. chinensis) is one of the gold-fleshed kiwifruit cultivars currently being promoted in south China. However, its fruit dry matter is usually less than 16%, which seriously affects fruit quality including taste and flavor. This causes a financial loss to growers: not only are the prices paid for the fruit low because of their bad reputation for quality, but some orchards have been removed. Improvement of fruit quality is essential. In this study, a method is described for squeezing and twisting flowering shoots before flowering and removing the distal vegetative parts of flowering shoots after fruit set. The effects on fruit quality were determined. The dry matter of fruit was increased by 6.6%. Fruit size also increased as did the chlorophyll a content and the chlorophyll:carotenoid ratio. The significantly increased fruit dry matter, resulting in significant increases in fruit soluble solids concentrations (P < 0.01), thereby possibly improving fruit taste. Fruit weight, fruit length, and carotenoid and ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly enhanced in comparison with controls (P < 0.01), increasing by 20%, 7%, 12%, and 19%, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in soluble sugar concentrations, titratable acid concentrations, and the reduced chlorophyll b concentrations. This research provides a practical method to increase fruit dry matter, and hence a way to allow fruit quality to reach commercial requirements for cultivars such as Jinyan, which under previous management systems had significant shortcomings in fruit flavor and taste.

scholarly journals Simulating Biotic Stress with Terbacil on Apple

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 779F-779
Author(s):  
J. A. Flore ◽  
Edgardo Disegna
Keyword(s):  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Color ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Fruit Firmness ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Crop Load ◽  
Photosynthetic Inhibition ◽  
Return Bloom ◽  
Dose Dependent

Terbacil an inhibitor of photosynthesis was applied to 10-year-old `Redchief' apple trees in the field carrying a heavy or light fruit crop, or to trees in pots. This simulated the effect of photosynthetic inhibition (PN-I) by either biotic or abiotic stress. Current as well as the next season's crop and physiology were determined. The magnitude and duration of photosynthetic inhibition was dose-dependent. A concentration of 63 mg·liter–1 was applied at 15-day intervals from bloom through harvest. Photosynthesis was in inhibited by 50% to 80% within 24 h of application, but recovered to control levels 10 to 14 days later. Terbacil at 15 and 30 DAFB induced fruit abscission, but not at later dates. The earlier the application the greater the effect on current seasons yield and fruit size. There was also a significant interaction with crop load. There were no significant effects on fruit soluble solids, fruit firmness, fruit density, or fruit color at harvest. Terbacil did not affect cold acclimation, deep winter hardiness, or deacclimation. Pn inhibition at 30, 60, 80, and 100 DAFB reduced return bloom.

scholarly journals Effects of Nitrogen Supply on Source-sink Balance and Fruit Size of ‘Gala’ Apple Trees

2009 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guohai Xia ◽  
Lailiang Cheng ◽  
Alan Lakso ◽  
Martin Goffinet
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Crop Load ◽  
N Supply ◽  
Source Sink ◽  
Fruit Harvest ◽  
Whole Tree

The objective of this study was to determine how nitrogen (N) supply affects the source-sink balance and fruit size of ‘Gala’ apple when crop load was controlled at a moderate level. Five-year-old ‘Gala’/‘M.26’ trees grown in sand culture and trained in tall spindle received a total of 3.3, 10.0, 20.0, or 40.0 g actual N through fertigation using Hoagland's solution from bloom to 3 weeks before harvest. The crop load of these trees was adjusted to 6.5 fruit/cm2 trunk cross-sectional area by hand thinning when the diameter of the largest fruit was 10 mm. As N supply increased, total shoot leaf area in the canopy increased, whereas total spur leaf area remained unchanged. Both single leaf and whole canopy net CO2 assimilation rates increased with increasing N supply. The net dry matter gain of the whole tree from budbreak to fruit harvest increased ≈74% from the lowest N supply to the highest N supply, but the proportion of net dry matter gain partitioned to fruit (harvest index) decreased from 83% to 70%. Both leaf area to fruit ratio and average final fruit size increased with increasing N supply, and a linear relationship was found between leaf area to fruit ratio and final fruit size. The number of cells per fruit increased with increasing N supply, whereas average cell size remained unchanged. As N supply increased, fruit soluble solids concentration increased, whereas fruit firmness decreased slightly. These results indicate that 1) apple trees grown under low N supply are source-limited; and 2) within the range of N supply used, increasing N supply improves leaf N status, leaf and whole tree photosynthetic capacity, and leaf area to fruit ratio, leading to more cells per fruit, larger fruit, and higher soluble solids.

scholarly journals Conduction systems in fig tree with two cultivars, evaluating fruits quality and yield

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Scheila Lúcia Ecker ◽  
Adriana Lugaresi ◽  
Gian Carlos Girardi ◽  
Bachelor Louis ◽  
Leandro Galon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Fruit Species ◽  
Great Economic Importance ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Fig Tree

The fig tree is rustic and one of the fruit species with great economic importance, because it adapts easily to different climate and soil types. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence the branches number and the fig tree cultivar on yield and fruit quality. The orchard implanted with two cultivars, Roxo de Valinhos and Pingo de Mel, and conducted with different numbers of productive branches, being: 16, 24 and 32. The utilized lineation was completely randomized, with three replicates, each replicate being composed of four plants. The analyzed variables were: branches length (cm), number of fruits per plant, number of fruits per branch meter, yield of mature fruits (Kg ha-1), yield of green fruits (Kg ha-1), accumulated productivity (Kg ha-1), fruit size (cm3), average fruit weight (g), soluble solids (°Brix) and fruit dry matter (%). The daily elongation rate and the mean length of the branches did not influence the different treatments. For productivity, noticed superiority on cultivar Roxo de Valinhos, with the higher the number of productive branches in the plants. Fruit quality, relative to soluble solids and dry matter, also did not influence the treatments. Fruits in larger caliber and size found from plants of the cultivar Roxo de Valinhos. Both for the production of fruits for fresh consumption and for the industrialization it is recommended the conduction with greater number of productive branches being between 24 and 32, for the greater productive yield.

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