Effect of Hand Thinning on Maturity, Yield and Fruit Quality of Peach (Prunus Persica Batsch.) CV. Flordaprince

“Studies on the time of hand thinning on Flordaprince cultivar pf peach Prunus persica Batsch)” were carried out in the Department of Horticulture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 1998 and 1999. Hand thinning treatments performed at different stages viz. at pink bud, full bloom, fruit set and after 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 days of fruit set along with control. The fruit maturity was advanced by 2 to 8 days when hand thinning was done either at pink bud or full bloom or fruit set stage. The yield was significantly higher in control as compared to all other treatments. A significant improvement in fruit weight was observed in the first three treatments as compared to others. Total soluble solids, and total sugars were recorded to be the highest in hand thinning when done at full bloom, higher TSS/acid ratio and lowest acidity was recorded in the treatment of hand thinning done at fruit set stage.