The influence of fruit thinning on fruit drop and quality of citrus

Abstract

This experiment aims to know the effects of fruit thinning on fruit drop and fruit quality of citrus. The research was conducted in a citrus orchard in Purbalingga, Central Java, Indonesia in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. There were nine observed ways of fruit thinning namely 15 days after full bloom (DAFB) by maintaining one fruit per branch, two fruits per branch, three fruits per branch, at 30 DAFB by maintaining one fruit per branch, two fruits per branch, three fruits per branch, at 45 DAFB by maintaining one fruit per branch, two fruits per branch, and three fruits per branch. The result showed that fruit thinning did not influence to the quality of citrus fruits (diameter and weight of fruits, vitamin C and sugar content, total acid, and soluble solids). The lowest fruit drop per branch was showed at thinning at 45 DAFB by maintaining one fruit per branch, whereas the lowest fruit drop per tree was achieved by fruit thinning at 45 DAFB by maintaining two fruits per branch.