Chemical thinning improves the fruit size and quality in Silver King nectarine

The investigations were conducted to study the effect of chemical thinning on growth, yield and quality of Silver King nectarine during 2016-2017 at Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 10, 20 and 30 ppm), ethephon (50, 100, 150 ppm) and urea (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 %) were sprayed one week after petal fall. The chemical thinners significantly increased the growth and reduced the fruit set and yield. The plants sprayed with NAA @ 30 ppm recorded highest annual shoot extension growth (52.46 cm), plant height (278.70 cm) and leaf area (36.95 cm(2)). Application of ethephon 150 ppm significantly reducted fruit set (52.91 %) and fruit yield (12.27 kg) alongwith increased fruit length (5.36 cm), fruit diameter (5.20 cm), fruit weight (73.12 g), soluble solid content (12.94 degrees B), SSC/acid ratio (25.88) and total sugars (9.49 %) followed by NAA @ 30 ppm. On the basis of results obtained, it may be inferred that nectarine trees sprayed with ethephon @ 150 ppm one week after petal fall judiciously thinned the nectarine fruits, improved yield and quality of nectarine fruits and found to be more economical and effective chemical thinner.