THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PRUNING TREATMENTS ON THE GROWTH, FRUIT QUALITY AND YIELD OF 'HACIHALILOGLU' APRICOT

Abstract

This study was conducted in Malatya, between 1999 and 2003, and the region's most important dried apricot variety, Hacihaliloglu was used as material. In the study, the effect of 5 different combined or alone pruning treatments on the growth, fruit quality and yield characteristics were determined in comparison with non-pruned trees. Pruning treatments in different periods did not statistically affect phenological features and fruit dimensions but strongly affected total soluble solid and fruit firmness of Hacihaliloglu apricot cultivar. The highest average yield considering trunk cross-sectional area was obtained as 0.34 kg·cm-2 from pre-harvest summer pruning treatment and the highest share of flower bud was observed as 68.29% in pre-harvest summer+winter pruning treatment. Pruning applications significantly affected both shoot diameter and length. The highest shoot diameter and length were obtained from pre-harvest summer+winter pruning application as 8.52 mm and 77.84 cm, respectively. The highest leaf area was determined as 39.43 cm2 in post harvest pruning treatment.

Keywords

• Prunus armeniaca L.
• summer pruning
• winter pruning
• pomological fruit features