ABSTRACT
Thinning crop density evaluation in nectarines by the unit fruit number/cm2 of trunk cross sectional area

Gabino Reginato M.1, Rodrigo Errázuriz F.1 y José L. Camus C.1
 

A trial was carried out during 1991/92 season, in Buin, Metropolitan region (33º 30' S; 71º 30' W), in order to evaluate the usefulness of the crop density unit, number of fruit/cm2 of trunk cross sectional area (TCSA), to determine fruit quantity left during nectarines thinning. To this purpose ten-year old Fairlane trees, grown on Pomona rootstock, trained on open vase and planted 5 by 5 m were used. Five levels of crop density were established, through hand thinning performed 15 days before pit hardening. The levels were the normal used (2.5 fruits/cm2 of TCSA), normal + 15%; normal - 15%, normal + 30%; normal - 30%. Evaluations of maturity and size of the fruit were performed, as wells as of tree growth and yield. It was found that while fruit number/cm2 of TCSA decreased, the fruit size increased, but yield efficiency (g/cm2 of TCSA) decreased. There was no effect of thinning intensity on fruit maturity and tree growth expresed as pruned material per cm2 of TCSA.

Keywords: nectarines, thinning, crop density, yield efficiency, trunk cross- sectional area.
1 Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 1004, Santiago, Chile.