Effects of different time of top one-third thinning on fruit quality and flowering in 'Aoshima' satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) trees

• Published in: Bulletin of the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture - Ehime University (Japan) no. 30
• Main Authors: Furuta, T.(Ehime Univ., Matsuyama (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture), Kitani, S, Shonaka, M, Nagamori, K, Abe, R, Omori, K, Sawada, Y, Higaki, M, Jinno, T, Mizutani, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: 01.09.2008
• Subjects: CITRUS UNSHIU; DEBLOSSOMING; ELIMINACION DE FLORES; FLORACION; FLORAISON; FLOWERING; FRUIT; FRUTO; MANDARINA; MANDARINE; MANDARINS; SATSUMA; SATSUMAS; SUPPRESSION DE FLEURS
• ISSN: 0914-7233

Effects of different time of top one-third thinning on fruit quality and flowering were investigated in mature trees of 'Aoshima' satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.), a late maturing cultivar. Top one-third thinning was conducted on July 23, August 20 and September 20 in 2007. All fruit were removed in top one-third portions of the tree crown. Conventional thinning was conducted on July 23 as control. Brix in the fruit juice was the greatest in September-thinned trees and lowest in the control. The later the time of top one-third thinning, the more increased Brix was obvious. Titratable acidity was lower in the top one-thinned trees compared with the conventional thinned trees but there was no difference among top one-third thinned trees. Thus, the Brix/acid ratio was greater in the top one-third thinned trees. The fruit size was largest in the control and became smaller as the thinning time became later. The flowering in the following spring was greatest in the conventional July-thinned trees whereas lowest in September thinned trees.