Changes of Fruit Characteristics by Fruit Load Control in 'Niitaka' and 'Whangkeumbae' Pear Trees on Y-trellis Training System

Abstract

This study was carried out to understand the characteristic relations fruit changes caused by adjusting the amount of the fruit load in 'Niitaka' and 'Whangkeumbae'. The average fruit weight of 'Niitaka' was 672.0 g and the amount of fruit in the range of 601-750 g was the highest, accounting for 33.8% of the production and as for 'Whangkeumbae', the average fruit weight was 477.5 g and fruit in the range of 401-600 g accounted for 72.5% of total production. The weight of the 'Niitaka' was evenly distributed in each range from below 300 g to over 1 kg and the percent of the regular shaped fruit in 'Whangkeumbae' was high as the distribution range of the fruit weight was narrow. The brix degree and the soluble solid content (SSC)/acidity ratio of 'Niitaka' had a significantly positive correlation with the fruit weight, the length, and the diameter of the fruit. The brix degree also had a positive correlation with weight and diameter of the fruit for 'Whangkeumbae'. As for the difference in fruit quality according to fruit weight for each variety, the brix degree was low in 'Niitaka' that were below 451 g and the fruit firmness was low in fruits weighing under 400 g. There was no difference according to fruit weight in 'Whangkeumbae'. The fruit size was impacted by the fleshy part and the ratio of fleshy part was higher as the fruit size became larger. The weight of the fruit, brix degree, and the SSC/acidity ratio were low while the firmness was high in light thinning treatment for 'Niitaka' and in the case of 'Whangkeumbae', the fruit weight and brix degree were both low in light thinning treatment. The brix degree was higher in bigger sized fruit in all thinning intensity for 'Niitaka', the case in light thinning treatment especially where the quality was poor due to low brix degree in fruits that weighed less than 450 g, on the other hand, there was no difference in the quality due to the fruit weight among the thinning intensity for 'Whangkeumbae'. Therefore, it is possible to produce smaller sized fruits in 'Niitaka' by controlling the thinning intensity, as it is inevitable to result in lower quality fruits, however, it is projected that we can produce small to mid-sized fruits in Whangkeumbae' by controlling the thinning intensity without causing the decline in fruit quality.