Effects of hand and chemical thinning on fruit size and quality of ‘Priana’ and ‘Beliana’ apricot(Prunus armeniaca)cultivars

Abstract

To cite this article: Levent Son (2004) Effects of hand and chemical thinning on fruit size and quality of 'Priana' and 'Beliana' apricot (Prunusarmeniaca) Annual apricot production is 100 000 t. The importance of the area is its earliness. This thinning study was carried out on 'Priana' and 'Beliana' apricot in 2002. In this experiment, 30%, 50%, 70% hand thinning; 1000, 1500, 2000 ppm carbaryl, and 10, 20, and 30 ppm naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were applied. The main objective of this work was to improve fruit quality characteristics. All treatments significantly increased fruit weight. The biggest fruit were obtained from 20 ppm NAA, 70% hand thinning, and 1000 ppm carbaryl for both apricot cultivars. The soluble solids (TSS) were greatest (13.53%) for 70% hand thinning and 20 ppm NAA in 'Priana'. When the fruit weight, average size of the fruits, and flesh/ seed ratios were considered; 70% hand thinning, 20 ppm NAA, and 1000 ppm carbaryl treatments were found more effective than the others in both apricot cultivars. The earliest treatments were 50% and 70% hand thinning and 20 ppm NAA in 'Priana' ; 70% hand thinning, 20 and 30 ppm NAA in 'Beliana'. All thinning applications caused 1-2 days earliness in comparison with control fruits.

Thinning with NAA, NAD, ethephon, urea and by hand to improve fruit quality of 'Gerdi' apricot

“…This data is in agreement with previous reports showed that application of NAA at 20 mg.l -1 (4 weeks AFB) was a good treatment for fruit thinning of apricot (Surányi, 1986;Bolat and Karlidağ, 1999;Son, 2004).…”

“…Flesh to nut ratio was the greatest in fruits treated with NAD. This data was in agreement with Son (2004) that stated 20 mg l -1 NAA had positive effects on flesh to nut ratio of 'Beliana' apricot.…”

“…This data confirms previous reports that increasing NAA and NAD concentrations had an increased effect on fruit weight in apricot (Son, 2004). The biggest fruit was related to 0.2% urea treatment.…”

“…Treated fruits ripened about one week earlier than control ones (Data not shown). In this experiment increasing NAA and NAD concentrations significantly increased TSS content, similar to the reported results of Son (2004). Flesh to nut ratio was the greatest in fruits treated with NAD.…”

“…In contrast, 'Biborkajszi' cultivar was more sensitive to thinning with potassium salt of NAA than to the NAD. Son (2004) applied NAA at 10, 20, and 30 mg l -1 on 'priana' and 'Beliana' apricot and found that NAA significantly increased fruit weight. Surányi (1978) reported that ethephon was less effective chemical thinner for apricot, but 200 mg l -1 ethephon on French prune resulted in optimum thinning, reducing fruit set by 50% and increasing final fruit size and soluble solids in harvested fruits (Martin et al, 1975).…”