Growth, Productivity and Quality Performance of Costata Persimmon in Relation to Canopy Position and Rootstock

Abstract

According to their position within a tree canopy, fruits will be exposed to varied climatic conditions especially light and temperature, which would reflect variation in their growth and maturation. In the present study, the differences occurring in vegetative growth, fruit yield and quality of Costata persimmon in accordance with rootstock type and fruit position in the canopy were investigated. Periphery especially, both southern and western directions besides the upper part and the outer canopy side indicated the highest values of fruit retention, average fruit number per shoot, fruit yield, spring shoot length, leaf area, total leaf area per fruit and leaf chlorophyll content. While the percentage of sunburned fruits was lower at both northern and eastern directions, as well as at the lower and inner part than the other directions of tree canopy. The best fruit physiochemical characteristics were found in both western and southern directions, as well as the upper part and outer part of the tree canopy. Trees grown on seedy rootstock gave the highest values of fruit yield, shoot length, leaf area and total leaf area per fruit. Along with lower sunburned fruits, longer, wider, heavier and firmer fruits were also found on Seedy rootstock.