THE EFFECT OF PRUNING INTENSITY IN THE PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF PEACH FRUITS

The present study aimed to evaluate the vegetative and productive behavior of peach trees when subjected to variations in the intensity of lopping the branches during pruning. We used plants of two cultivars 'Riograndense' and 'Leonense', and three pruning intensities, heavy pruning (removal of 2/3 of the length of the branches), pruning (removing 1/3 of the length of the branches) without lopping and pruning (maintenance of the branches intact). The 'Riograndense' plants showed larger fruits in diameter, since 'Leonense' had a higher percentage of fruit set (40,91 %), greater firmness (7,70 kgf), soluble solids (11,12 brix) and more fruits per plant (70,11). Pruning called heavy pruning provided greater fruit diameter and greater volume of fresh mass retreated in the summer pruning (3,193.75 g.plant(-1)). The interaction 'Riograndense' x heavy pruning provide a greater percentage of fruits (91.02 %), higher fruit mass (141.62) and higher volume of fresh mass in pruning (3,188.14 g.plant(-1)), now highest yield was obtained in 'Riograndense' plants received without lopping pruning (10.82 t.ha(-1)). The different types of pruning influence the development affecting the number of flowers and fruits of the plants. In the conditions of the experiment was conducted we conclude that characteristics such as effective fruit firmness and soluble solids, are not altered by different types of pruning, since the variables related to production are closely linked to variations of pruning branches intensity.