Thinning Stage Influences Fruit Size and Yield of Kiwifruit

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Abstract
An experiment in thinning kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa Planch.) vines at the bud swell stage vs. at fruit set stage was conducted in the Western Galilee to a) determine the optimal physiological stage of thinning, b) optimize fruit weight and yield, and c) determine the relationship between fruit number per vine and alternate bearing. A negative relationship was found between the number of fruits per vine and fruit weight or alternate bearing. Vines thinned at the bud swell stage always carried larger fruits than those thinned after fruit setting. As the fruit load on the vine decreased, smaller differences were observed between the two thinning dates. Assuming that individual fruit weight should not be < 70 g, thinning at the bud swell stage allows a yield of 1700 fruits per vine, and that at the fruit-set stage only 1400 fruits per vine. Vines not sprayed with Alzodef (H2CN2, cyanamide) to break dormancy yielded less than half the number of fruits as the sprayed vines.

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