Effects of Different Pruning Systems on Fruit Yield and Quality in Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.)

This study was established at the experimental field of Horticulture Department of Cukurova University in Adana, Turkey during 2013-2015 harvest period two consecutive years. Two plum cultivars (‘Black Diamond’, ‘Angeleno’) and Friar as pollinizer grafted on Myrobolan rootstock were used as plant material. Trees produced commercially good yield in 2014, at the fourth growing season. The aim of this study was to compare four different pruning systems (spindle, 4 leader- Quad-V, central leader and open vase) and six different planting distances (0.8-1-1.2-1.6-2- 4 m and standard inter rows 4 m) for yield (ton ha-1) on several fruit quality variables such as (fruit weight, firmness, fruit flesh/seed weight, TSS, TA). Morphological and phenological characters were observed and chilling accumulation of the study area was determined. Sufficient chilling accumulation was calculated in both years regarding fruit crop load. The best results for quality characteristics were obtained from Spindel (1.2x4 m) high density pruning system for both cultivars. Also, ‘‘Black Diamond’’ cultivar on Spindel (1.2 m) gave the highest fruit weight (110.4 g) and yield (62.27 ton ha-1).