Effect of crop load and different thinning methods in two kiwifruit cultivars
Author(s)
Date Issued
February 2026
Type
article
Issue
1449
Start Page
211
End Page
218
ISSN
2406-6168
Journal
Abstract
Commercial return from kiwifruits (Actinidia spp.) are strictly related to fruit weight and, consequently, to their distribution in commercial classes. Fruit weight can be manipulated directly in the orchard, regulating crop load by thinning. This work was carried out in a kiwifruit orchard in Central Italy on two cultivars, ‘Gold3’ and ‘Hayward’. We studied three intensities of fruit thinning: farm crop load, as usually adopted by growers in the cultivation area, taken as 100% level, with a range of 37±12n° of fruits per m2 of canopy according to the season and orchard management in the triennium; high crop load with a 115-120% level, and low crop load with a 7085% level. A supplementary trial consisted in bud thinning before flowering, leaving only the king flower for each inflorescence, reducing the number of fruits to 80% of the farm crop load. Albeit variations from one year to another, crop loads significantly influenced average fruit weight and their repartition in commercial classes. Compared to the farm crop load, fruit weight decreased by 3.5-7.1% in high crop load while it increased by 6.6-14.7% in low crop load. Bud thinning led to a significant increase in fruit weight compared to farm crop load, ranging between 15.8 and 19.7%. In addition, this practice being able to be carried out a month before fruit thinning, also allows for better organization of work and manpower in the orchard. The effect of thinning is even more evident in commercial classes: Low crop load increased the number of fruits >90 g by 7.8-14.9% while bud thinning increased it by 10.7-29.2%. Concerning qualitative characteristics, fruit thinning anticipated ripening and increased soluble solids and dry matter content. This work intends to propose practical advice to kiwifruit growers on fruit thinning management to organize the most suitable and economically efficient practices in their orchards.
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