Changes in the Reproductive Traits of Low-chill Peach Tree in Response to Reproductive Shoot Pruning after Harvesting

This work studied the effect of the renovation of the fruiting shoots after harvest on the reproductive behaviour of low-chilling peach trees cultivated in the central-east area of the province of Santa Fe (Argentina). After the harvest period, one group of plants was left unpruned (NP, control), while a second group of plants was pruned (P) by heading back or thinning out their bearing shoots. P did not affect flower density, fruit set and fruit load per plant at the next spring, but it significantly changed the distribution of fruits in the canopy, increasing the proportion of those located in the intermediate stratum of the tree (+ 10 to 40 %). P significantly reduced fruit size at the beginning of the fruit growth period, but the differences became insignificant at harvest, which was delayed three days by the pruning treatment. Fruit yield per tree was not significantly affected by summer pruning. Therefore, this cultural practice can be recommended in order to extend the pruning period of low chilling peach trees.