Articles
Late dormant pruning affects split pit incidence in peach
Article number
1177_21
Pages
157 – 164
Language
English
Abstract
Endocarp or pit splitting within mature peach fruit is a serious problem in many early season cultivars.
Several associated factors such as crop load, girdling, tree water status, temperature, and/or genetics have been proposed but no solutions have been found that consistently prevent pit fracturing and subsequent split fruit.
A split pit prone cultivar, ‘Rubyprince,’ was used to test if different thinning and pruning times would alter the frequency of split pits at the time of harvest.
In 2012, no significant differences were observed in treatments with different thinning times; however, a significant reduction in external split pits did occur with trees that were pruned post bloom.
In 2013, the rate of split pits once again decreased with the length of time after bloom that trees were pruned.
Several associated factors such as crop load, girdling, tree water status, temperature, and/or genetics have been proposed but no solutions have been found that consistently prevent pit fracturing and subsequent split fruit.
A split pit prone cultivar, ‘Rubyprince,’ was used to test if different thinning and pruning times would alter the frequency of split pits at the time of harvest.
In 2012, no significant differences were observed in treatments with different thinning times; however, a significant reduction in external split pits did occur with trees that were pruned post bloom.
In 2013, the rate of split pits once again decreased with the length of time after bloom that trees were pruned.
Publication
Authors
R.E. Burrell, G.L. Reighard
Keywords
endocarp splitting, Prunus persica, fruit growth rate
Online Articles (59)