EFFECT OF LEAF NUMBER AND FRUIT DISTRIBUTION IN PEACH-TREES ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF PEACHES

We compared the production of flower buds, fruit abscission, fruit growth and quality according to the fruit distribution on limbs (regular or not) and to the number of leaves per fruit (0, 1 or 2 shoots per fruit). Only one limb per tree was treated from a sample of 15 trees. The yield per limb and the mean growth of fruits were lowest, and the fruit abscission was highest on limbs without leaves. On leafy limbs, the yield components and the number of flower buds were not significantly affected by changes in the number of leaves per fruit or by the fruit distribution. Fruits on limbs without leaves had a lot of purple color, a greater firmness and a low sugar content. Fruits on limbs with many leaves before harvest had high sugar and malic acid content, as well as yellow and orange color.