Comparative tree growth, fruit set, fruit yield and physical characteristics of some plum cultivars grown under temperate conditions of Kashmir

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar, Kashmir during the year 2017-18. The present study consisted of six plum cultivars viz. Burbank, Stanley, Friar, Wickson, Santa Rosa and Satsuma of uniform age replicated thrice in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). In the experimental year, tree cross section area, tree spread, initial fruit set, final fruit set, maturity, yield, yield efficiency, fruit weight, volume of fruit, stone weight, pulp weight of the fruit, pulp/stone ratio and adherence of stone to flesh were recorded. The data recorded revealed that tree cross sectional area was maximum in cultivar ‘Santa Rosa’ (33.14 cm2) and minimum in cultivar ‘Friar’ (5.75 cm2). The plum cultivar ‘Satsuma’ was found to have maximum tree spread (2.19 m) whereas minimum tree spread of 0.46 m was recorded in ‘Friar’. Highest initial and final fruit set was recorded in cultivar ‘Stanley’ (61.28% and 30.78 %) whileas lowest initial and final fruit set was noticed in cultivar ‘Santa Rosa’ (46.15% and 17.54%). Cultivar ‘Burbank’ took minimum period of 95 days, while ‘Friar’ took maximum of 132 days to mature. Maximum fruit yield (11.55 kg/tree) was obtained in cultivar ‘Stanley’, however, minimum yield (6.43 kg/tree) was recorded in cultivar ‘Santa Rosa’. Yield efficiency was observed to be maximum in cultivar Friar (1.84 kg/cm2) and minimum in Santa Rosa (0.20 kg/cm2). The fruit weight was maximum in cultivar ‘Friar’ (50.47 g) and minimum in the cultivar ‘Satsuma’ (38.81 g). The maximum fruit volume of 54.63 cm3 was recorded in cultivar ‘Santa Rosa whereas minimum fruit volume of 27.08 cm3 was observed in cultivar ‘Satsuma’. Stone weight was recorded to be highest in cultivar ‘Stanley’ (2.04 g) and lowest in ‘Friar’ (0.72 g). Pulp weight of the fruit was recorded to be maximum in ‘Friar’ (49.74 g) and minimum in ‘Burbank’ (37.73 g). Maximum pulp: stone ratio was recorded in cultivar ‘Friar’ (68.61) while the minimum pulp: stone ratio was recorded in ‘Stanley’ (19.05). Burbank, Wickson and Santa Rosa were cling stone type, two cultivars (Stanley and Friar) were free stone type and one cultivar (Satsuma) was semi cling stone type. The study concluded on the note that cultivars Stanley and Friar are better with respect to fruit set, yield, yield efficiency, fruit weight and free stone.