New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts

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Determination of productivity and fruit set ratios of various loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) cultivars under Mediterranean conditions

A. Aytekin Polat

Horticulture Department
Agriculture Faculty
Mustafa Kemal University
Antakya, Hatay 31034, Turkey
email: apolat@mku.edu.tr

Abstract This study was conducted to determine fruit set ratios and productivity of four loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) cultivars, ‘Gold Nugget’, ‘Kanro’, ‘Baffico’, and ‘Dr. Trabut’ on the coast of the Mediterranean region of Turkey between 2001 and 2003. Elevation of the experimental site was c. 158 m, with an average annual temperature of 19°C and annual rainfall of 556 mm (average of 1983–2003). To determine fruit set, a branch was randomly selected from all four directions on each tree. Approximately 250–300 flower buds were counted before the blossom at each of these selected branches making a total of c. 1000–1200 flower buds on each tree. Percent blossom ratios, % initial fruit set, and % final fruit set were determined during the experimental period. Furthermore, productivity of the cultivars was calculated by the proportion of the total flower buds to the final fruit amount. The relation between minimum, maximum, and average temperature values as well as relative humidity and precipitation between October and February, which covers blossom periods and fruit set ratios, were also examined by correlation. Our results showed that the highest rates for the above-mentioned properties were taken in 2002 except % blossom, the highest rates were for ‘Gold Nugget’ for the other three properties. According to 3-year averages, ‘Gold Nugget’ showed higher rates on initial fruit set, final fruit set, and productivity (12.39%, 11.03%, and 10.22%, respectively). Percent initial fruit set was between 6.98% and 9.70%, % final fruit set was between 5.66% and 7.55%, and productivity was between 5.33% and 6.94% for the other three cultivars.

Keywords Eriobotrya japonica; flowering; yield; subtropical climate

New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2007, Vol. 35: 101–105
0014–0671/07/3501–0101      © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007
H06043; Online publication date 20 March 2007. Received 8 May 2006; accepted 24 January 2007

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