at harvest. Fruit size distribution was categorized 

 using a FMC Weight Sizer (PMC Corp. Lakeland, FL). 

 The weight sizer was adjusted to divide the fruit into 

 four diameter size categories: 57-63 mm, 64-69 mm, 

 70-75 mm, and greater than 75 mm. Twenty fruits of 

 the 70-75 mm category were selected from each tree 

 for fruit quality analysis. Red fruit color and russet 

 were estimated visually. Fruit firmness was measured 

 on the EPT-1 firmness tester (Lake City Technical 

 Products, Inc. Kelowna, BC, Canada), with two 

 opposing punctures per fruit. The soluble solids of the 

 fruit were determined using an Atago PR-101 digital 

 refractometer (Misco Products Divn., Cleveland, OH). 

 Seed number was counted. 



set, especially on control trees, however, the rankings 

 of the treatments remained essentially unchanged. 

 There were no treatment interactions on fruit set, yield 

 or fruit characteristics between blossom thinners and 

 post-bloom NAA in this study. Wilthin, endothall and 

 NAA applied at bloom reduced yield (Table 1). 

 PostbloomNAA had no effect on yield. There were no 

 significant effects of thinners on fruit size distribution 

 (data not presented). There were no treatment etfects 

 on fruit red color, fruit firmness, soluble solids 

 concentration, or seed number (data not presented). 

 Fruit from trees treated with Wilthin had higher 

 incidence of russet than fruit irom NAA- or endothall- 

 treated frees (Table 1 ). 



Results 



Discussion 



Fruit set was reduced by all blossom thinners, 

 while post-bloom NAA had no effect on fruit set 

 (Table 1). Final fruit set was much less than the initial 



Environmental conditions during bloom and for 

 the following month were characterized by warm 

 temperatures and high sunlight, making favorable 



10 



Fruit Notes, Volume 67, Spring, 2002 



