• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.392-396
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• 2010

This research focused on determining the effectiveness of cluster and/or flower thinning in highbush 'Jersey' blueberry on the yield and fruit quality. The total yield and quality of fruit were compared between thinning methods of control (no thinning), 1/3 cluster thinning, 1/3 cluster thinning + 1/2 flower thinning, 2/3 cluster thinning, and 2/3 cluster thinning + 1/2 flower thinning per each bearing shoot, respectively. Thinning strength significantly affected the yield of bearing shoot and, thus, total yield of control and 1/3 cluster thinning was higher than others. Both cluster and flower thinning, however, significantly affected the fruit growth resulting in the increase of fruit weight, length and width. Even total yield was similar between control and 1/3 cluster thinning, more larger fruit (> 1.6 g) were produced by 1/3 cluster thinning treatment, indicating that flower and/or cluster thinning contributed to the increase of individual fruit growth. Unlike fruit growth, fruit quality was less affected except total soluble solid contents. Total soluble solid level significantly increased in treatments (2/3 cluster thinning, 2/3 cluster thinning + 1/2 flower thinning) with yield decrease. No significant difference in levels of acidity and firmness of fruit was found. Results indicated that fruit growth and total yield of highbush blueberry was more influenced by the thinning strength regardless of cluster or flower than internal quality of fruit such as solid and acid levels.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to find out the optimum number of fruiting per a flower cluster on 5 domestic strawberry cultivars (Fragaria${\times}$ananassa Duch.), 'Daewang', 'Ssanta', 'Okmae', 'Seolhyang' and 'Maehyang'. Therefore, three ways of fruit thinning, 4~5 fruiting, 7~9 fruiting and all fruiting per a flower cluster were compared. After fruit thinning, the first fruit weights were increased from the second flower cluster on 'Seolhyang' and 'Maehyang', but from the third one on 'Daewang' and 'Ssanta'. There was no difference in first fruit weight by the flower thinning ways on 'Okmae'. The mean fruit weights of all the cultivars were increased and sugar contents also were increased, but acidities were decreased. The peduncle lengths were shortened by fruit thinning, but there was no difference in number of leaf, petiole length and crown diameter. Marketable yields by 4~5 fruiting per a flower cluster than all the fruit setting were higher 4.3% and 6.6% respectively on 'Daewang' and 'Maehyang'. In contrast, the yields were higher 3.1%, 3.5% and 9.1% in 7~9 fruiting per a flower cluster than all fruiting on 'Ssanta', 'Okmae' and 'Seolhyang' respectively. As the result, we could improve the fruit quality and could increase marketable yield by fruit thinning with matching flowering characteristics of those strawberry cultivars.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2024

Fruit thinning rate and characteristics were investigated for three years on seven promising pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) cultivars, which were treated by lime-sulfur as an eco-chemical thinning substance. Lime-sulfur was treated twice at the second and third days after full bloom by cultivar. Most of pear cultivars were significantly thinned by lime-sulfur compounds. Especially 'Whangkeumbae', 'Supergold' and 'Hanareum' exhibited high flower thinning rates, 41.5%, 40.1% and 39.9%, respectively. As weather conditions at the lime-sulfur treatment, insolation and cloud amount were correlated with flower thinning rate but not significant (r = 0.49 and r = -0.45, respectively). These results suggest that lime-sulfur is suitable for reducing labor force for flower thinning of Korean pears but flower thinning effects of lime-sulfur can vary depending on other factors such as environmental conditions. This information will provide useful data for low labor force cultivation of Korean pear cultivars.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2014

This study aimed to examine the effect of different fruit-loads on fruit yield, quality, and plant growth of 'Seolhyang' strawberry. Fruit loads were adjusted from the first to the fourth flower cluster so that the number of fruits became 20, 25, and 30, and non-flower thinning of some was made. The more the number of fruits per plant was, the greater the total yield obtained, but marketable yield decreased and non-marketable yield increased. Compared to the treatment whose fruit load was adjusted, the control with non-flower thinning had more fruit yield in the first and second flower clusters but tended to have less fruit yield in the third and fourth flower clusters. The lower the fruit load was, the more soluble solids content of fruits increased. The lower the fruit load of a flower cluster was, the faster its harvest time reached. Harvest of fruit load of 20 was faster by 10 days in the second and fourth flower clusters relative to the control. On November 24, 2012, flowering thinning of the first flower cluster was made. On March 7, 2013, fruit dry weight of the second flower cluster was most heavy in the control. Dry weight of roots decreased in the control and the fruit load of 30 compared to November 24. On April 9, fruit dry weight of the third flower cluster did not have significant difference according to fruit load, however the more the fruit load was, the smaller dry weight of leaf, root, and crown became, which were vegetative organs. On May 12, the more the fruit load, the smaller leaf area and dry weight of vegetative organs and differences from varying fruit-loads became considerable in later period of growth. Appropriate fruit load of 'Seolhyang' strawberry were from 20 to 25. Maintaining balance between vegetative and fruit growth by adjusting fruit load is very important for stable fruit production.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.360-367
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: The productivity and quality of blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) greatly depend on the number of fruits in a plant. Especially, fruit set more than appropriate number negatively affects productivity and marketability due to the increased number of small fruits and delayed harvest time. This study was conducted to investigate proper timing and concentration for applying chemical blossom thinners such as ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) and UREA. METHODS AND RESULTS: ATS at 1.25% and 1.50%, and UREA at 6% and 8% were applied in four developmental stages, bud swell, pink bud, full bloom and petal fall. Fruit thinning rate was calculated based on the number of fruits harvested divided by that of flowers before applying blossom thinners. Ratios of leaf to flower and leaf to fruit were calculated based on the number of fully developed leaves in 25 days after full blossom divided by that of flowers or fruits, respectively. Chemical injury of leaves was investigated by calculating the number of leaves with chemical injury divided by the total number of leaves. Fruit thinning rates were 48% and 66% for UREA treatments at 6% and 8%, respectively, and 49% and 62% for ATS treatments at 1.25% and 1.50%, respectively, in the full bloom stage. In the petal fall stage, fruit thinning rates were 18% and 24% for UREA treatments at 6% and 8%, respectively, and 49% and 35% for ATS treatments at 1.25% and 1.50%, respectively. Leaf to fruit ratio (L/FR) increased by 109% and 188% compared to leaf to flower ratio in ATS treatments at 1.25% and 1.50%, respectively, and L/FR increased 93 and 196% in UREA treatments at 6% and 8%, respectively, in the full bloom stage. In the petal fall stage, leaf to fruit ratio increased by 60% to 100% in ATS treatments, but did not significantly differ from the control in UREA treatments. Fruit harvest was delayed in all treatments of all developmental stages except for 1.5% ATS and 6% UREA treatments at the petal fall stage, whose fruit harvest was two or three days faster than the control. CONCLUSION: The application of ATS and UREA for blossom thinning should be in the petal fall and full bloom stages for early and late harvest, respectively. Considering chemical injury, integrated harvesting and fruit size, however, it is appropriate to apply ATS at 1.5% in the petal fall stage to increase fruit productivity and quality in blueberry.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of fruit setting order by flower cluster on the fruit weight and the soluble solids content for the strawberry of 'Seolhyang' cultivar. The first flower cluster had higher fruit number, fruit weight, soluble solids content and ratio of large fruit compared to the second and third flower cluster. The fruit set on the upper position fruit in the same flower cluster had higher fruit weight and the soluble solids compared to the fruit set on the lower position fruit in the flower cluster. The fruit weight was highly positive correlated with the soluble solids content. The result indicated that the number of fruit set for marketable yield seemed to be 9-10 per the first flower cluster, 6 per the second flower cluster, 4 per the third flower cluster and 3 per the fourth flower cluster in 'Seolhyang' cultivar.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.373-377
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• 2000

This study was carried out to verify the effect of fruit thinning on fruit development, and the results were as follows. The number of cells between fruit epidermis and periphery vascular bundle during 35 to 184 days after full bloom (DAFB) were constant with 14~17 cells, regardless of thinning at pink bud stage, fruitlet stage or non-thinning. However, the distance between epidermis and vascular bundle was longest in the fruit thinned at pink stage followed by fruits thinned at fruitlet stage and control. Therefore, it was seemed that the fruit size increment during 35 to 184 DAFB was due to the increment of cell size. Thinning time affected fruit size and the earlier the thinning times were the bigger the fruits were. However, there were no direct relationships between thinning time and the starch or tannin particle development in the cells of the fruit.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.486-491
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• 2015

In this study, we evaluated the differences in fruit development and quality indices of fruits subjected to blossom thinning before full bloom in 'Hanareum' and 'Niitaka' pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai). We carried out a thinning treatments at 5 days before full bloom, targeting the blossoms at the 1st and 2nd position (T1) or the blossoms at the 6th and 7th position (T2) from the basal part of the flower cluster in both cultivars. Blossom thinning treatments increased the average fruit weight of early-season Asian pear 'Hanareum' up to 10.5% (T1) and 11.0% (T2) at harvest time (110 days after full bloom). The mid-season 'Niitaka' pear showed increased fruit weight of up to 12.6% (T1) and 16.8% (T2) at harvest time (170 days after full bloom). Moreover, these treatments increased the production rate of bigger sized fruits in both cultivars. Removal of blooms also affected fruit quality indices; the bloom-thinned fruits showed higher soluble solids contents (about $1^{\circ}Brix$) and higher skin color redness ($a^*$) especially in 'Niitaka' pears when compared to the non-thinned controls. Overall, the treatments increased the fruit size and weight as well as fruit quality including soluble solids and skin color. Bloom thinning treatment targeting the 6th to 7th blossom from the basal part of the flower cluster may be recommended as the practical thinning method in Asian pear 'Hanareum' and 'Niitaka'.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2016

This study investigated the effects of flower and fruit thinning agents on fruit set and harvested fruit quality attributes in 'Gamhong' apples. Lime sulfur, MaxCel (1.9% BA), and Fruitone (3.5% NAA) were applied either at post-bloom or fruitlet stages to mature 'Gamhong/M.9' trees. In 2011, the numbers of fruits per cluster in terminal flowers were 1.74, 0.82, and 1.15 for the control, lime sulfur, and Maxcel (applied at 10-mm fruit stage) treatments, respectively. The percentages of single fruit per cluster were 36.0, 47.9, and 48.7% for the control, lime sulfur, and Maxcel (10 mm) treatments, respectively, while the percentages of clusters with three fruits per cluster were 22.9, 1.4, and 5.8%. In lateral flowers, fruit numbers per cluster were 1.20, 0.36, and 0.50 for the control, lime sulfur, and Maxcel (10 mm) treatments, respectively. In 2012, all the thinning treatments showed a positive effect on flower and fruit thinning, compared with the control. Moreover, the treatment with thinning agents did not affect fruit quality. Overall, the results suggest that a single application of flower or fruit thinning agents would be sufficient, rather than the mixed application of thinning agents, based on the observed decrease in fruit setting.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Increase in the ratio of small berries in blueberry production decreases the farmers' profits due to weakening market competitiveness and lowering harvest efficiency. One of the reasons for increased small berries is over fruit-load. For improving productivity and competitiveness of blueberry in Korea, hand-thinning can be applied to increase fruit quality before the developing adequate chemical thinning methods. This study was conducted to investigate the proper timing and methods for floral buds thinning in rabbiteye blueberry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight years old bushes of rabbiteye bluberries 'Brightwell' as a primary cultivar and 'Powderblue' as a pollinizer were used for this study. Fruit size distribution by leaf-to-fruit ratio was investigated by counting the number of leaves and fruits in canes of 127 'Brightwell' plants whose fruit set varied. Fifty percent of flowers/floral buds were removed in four different floral buds stages such as bud swell, late pink bud, full bloom, and petal fall, and the consumed time for thinning and fruit characteristics were recorded to investigate the effect and proper timing of floral buds thinning. Fruit weight and soluble solids content tended to increase in proportion to leaf-to-fruit ratio and the production of the number of fruits less than 13 mm in diameter decreased when leaf-to-fruit ratio was more than 2.5. Manual floral buds thinning by hands was fastest in full bloom stage and slowest in bud swelling stage. In all cultivars, fruit size was significantly smaller in non-thinning treatment than thinning, and there was, however, no significant difference in total fruit yield. The number of fruits less than 13 mm in diameter increased in both cultivars as floral buds thinning was delayed. Consumed time for picking 90% berries out of total berries per bush was shortest in full bloom stage thinning in 'Brightwell' and bud swelling, full bloom thinning in 'Powderblue'. These were 25 and 20 days faster than no thinning, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the effect of floral buds thinning varied depending on the cultivars, our results confirmed that floral buds thinning was effective for the early intensive harvesting and the increase of the large fruit ratio and the harvesting productivity. Also, in order to increase thinning efficiency, it is recommended to remove the flower buds before the full bloom stage.