Effect of Different Concentration of Cppu and Fruit Thinning on Yield and Quality of Kiwifruit Cv. ALLISONAND HAYWARD

The investigations were carried out during 2011 and 2012 at Regional Horticultural research station, Bajaura, to study the effect of different concentration of CPPU and fruit thinning on yield and quality of Kiwifruit cv. Allison and Hayward.The vines were ten years old at the start of study. One hundred twenty six uniform vines were selected in each cultivar. The trees were planted 6x3 m apart. The shoots of the each vines were tagged after fruit set and the tagged shoots were thinned (2 fruits/shoot, 3 fruits/shoot, 4 fruits/shoot, 5 fruits/shoot and 6 fruits/shoot). Tagged and thinned fruit vines of Allison and Hayward were sprayed with different concentration of CPPU (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 and 15.0 ppm) two weeks after fruit set. The results indicated that the maximum fruit yield, fruit weight, fruit length and fruit breadth was obtained when 4 fruits/shoots were retained and CPPU 10 ppm was sprayed in case of both the cultivars. Thinning treatments did not have any significant effect on fruit chemical properties. i.e. total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity, reducing sugars and total sugars content in both seasons of investigation. The results revealed that highest total soluble solids (TSS) and lowest acidity was obtained when vines were sprayed with CPPU 10 ppm as compared with control. Therefore, from these studies it can be concluded that thinning with 4 fruits/shoot resulted in optimum thinning and maximum production of 'A' grade fruits of better quality along with spray of CPPU @ 10 ppm with highest increase in net benefits over control, which is considered to be the best combination treatment used for producing maximum yield and improving fruit quality, especially fruit weight.