Understanding the relationship between spatial pattern of fruits and fruit retention in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) cv. Red Delicious

An investigation was carried out at Commercial orchard, Shalimar (Jammu & Kashmir) during 2016-17 to find out the effect of Spatial Pattern of Flowers on Fruit Retention in Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) cv. Red Delicious. The fruits were numbered with indelible marker in June, defining the position (king or lateral blossom fruit); number of fruits in the cluster; and fruit from a 2, 3, 4 or 5 year old wood. The floor under the tree was cleaned and fruits were allowed to drop, fruits that dropped before 20th September were included under pre-harvest drop (this date was chosen after properly checking the maturity indices). The investigation revealed thatfruit retention is significantly influenced by the spatial position of the fruits. Maximum fruit retention (70%) was found in king fruits. Among the different number of fruits in cluster, maximum retention of 100% (all selected fruits retained) was found in fruit clusters containing only 1 fruit and minimum in clusters containing 5 fruits. Among the different ages of wood, maximum fruit retention (80%) was obtained from 5thyear old wood and minimum in case of youngest wood taken i.e., 2nd year old wood.