Articles
Differences in flower and fruit drop patterns in almond cultivars
Article number
1219_7
Pages
37 – 44
Language
English
Abstract
Self-fertility in almond is one of the main aims in the Spanish breeding programs.
However, productivity depends not only on the level of self-fertility but also in other factors such as the number of flowers produced, on the percentage of fruit set and on the fruit weight.
These yield components are genotype-dependent and are influenced by climatic and management conditions.
The almond tree like other fruit trees shows a regulation effect of the productive load that can occur with flower drops and can continue with fruit drops, to be able to reach a good balance between crop load and vegetative growth.
In this work, the pattern of the physiological flower and fruit drops in different almond cultivars was evaluated.
The work was carried out in a plot in Lleida (Northeastern Spain) set in a randomized blocks trial (4 replicates of each cultivar and 4 trees replicate-1). The number and the evolution of flowers and fruits were assessed every 15 days, from pink bud to nut harvest.
The evaluation was carried out in two shoots per replication and using four blocks for each cultivar.
The results of one year study (2016) showed two different flower and fruit drop patterns which are modulated according to cultivar and their phenological evolution.
The cultivar patterns differ considering the productive organ that drops, the time when the drops occur and the severity of the drops.
However, productivity depends not only on the level of self-fertility but also in other factors such as the number of flowers produced, on the percentage of fruit set and on the fruit weight.
These yield components are genotype-dependent and are influenced by climatic and management conditions.
The almond tree like other fruit trees shows a regulation effect of the productive load that can occur with flower drops and can continue with fruit drops, to be able to reach a good balance between crop load and vegetative growth.
In this work, the pattern of the physiological flower and fruit drops in different almond cultivars was evaluated.
The work was carried out in a plot in Lleida (Northeastern Spain) set in a randomized blocks trial (4 replicates of each cultivar and 4 trees replicate-1). The number and the evolution of flowers and fruits were assessed every 15 days, from pink bud to nut harvest.
The evaluation was carried out in two shoots per replication and using four blocks for each cultivar.
The results of one year study (2016) showed two different flower and fruit drop patterns which are modulated according to cultivar and their phenological evolution.
The cultivar patterns differ considering the productive organ that drops, the time when the drops occur and the severity of the drops.
Authors
X. Miarnau, L. Torguet, I. Batlle, S. Alegre, M. Rovira
Keywords
Prunus dulcis, cultivar, fruit set, yield components, production
Groups involved
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