Growth and Ultimate Size of cactus pear Opuntia ficusindica Fruit following Fruit Thinning in a semi-arid area | ||||
| Journal of Sohag Agriscience (JSAS) | ||||
| Volume 8, Issue 2 - Serial Number 14, December 2023, Page 19-32 PDF (1.3 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Research and Review Papers | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jsasj.2023.334509 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Alaa El-Din T. Abo-El-Ez1; M. R. El-Shenawi2; M. A. Hussain1; Ahmed E. M. Essa  3
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| 1Plant Production Department Offered Subjects: Horticulture Faculty of Agriculture Sohag University Sohag 82524 Egypt | ||||
| 2Horticulture Research Institute Agriculture Research Center Giza 12619 Egypt | ||||
| 3Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, 12619, Egypt. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| The aim of this work was to study the effect of fruit thinning on fruit yield and quality of cactus pear. To meet this objective, trials on fruit thinning were conducted on an adult plantation of cactus pear Opuntia ficusindica. cv ‘Cristalina’ 10 years old at the research farm at Sohag University in Kawthar area, where semi-arid climatic condition is conducted. The fruit thinning consisted of reducing the fruit load of overcharged cladodes by reducing the number of fruits to 4, 8 and 12 per cladode. We established a cladode load and thinning time that maximized fruit and flesh size in cactus pear. It was practiced in mid-March month by removing some floral buds at the flowering stage. The control cladodes had an average number of 18 fruits per cladode. Obtained results showed that the reduction in the load of cladodes improved fruit size and quality. Fruit and flesh weight increased with thinning. Heavier thinning (4 per cladode) causes increase of fruit or flesh weight but it is less economically feasible due to the small number of total fruits per feddan. Percent flesh affected by thinning. Fruit characteristics, such as total soluble solids concentration and seed content change with thinning. But the best economic return was with 8 fruit because of the high price of selling per fruit and the yield per acre compared to the rest of the treatments and control. In 8 fruits per cladode thinned plants as the best obtained seasons’ results, an average fruit weight was 189.74 g and average fruit length and diameter was 9.81 and 7.34 cm, respectively. Regarding to untreated plants (control), an average of the fruit weight was only 105.28 g and average fruit length and diameter was 7.88 and 6.16 cm, respectively as the best obtained seasons’ results. Thinning treatment affected the total sugar significantly. The number of seeds was affected by thinning treatments whereas in T3 (4 fruits), T2 (8 fruits) T1 (12 fruits) and Control, respectively, while depending on the distribution of seeds through the fruit pulp is favorable in T3 (4 fruits) than other thinning. Fruit thinning also improved the economic income of the yield. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Cactus Pear; Fruit Thinning; Fruit Quality; Fruit Yield | ||||
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