Crop Load and Thinning Methods Impact Yield, Nutrient Content, Fruit Quality, and Physiological Disorders in ‘Scilate’ Apples

Most apple cultivars produce too many flowers to enable consistent yields of high-quality fruit, thus, crop load management (thinning) is an integral part orchard in modern cultivation. Crop managed by thinning excess and/or fruit from a tree, however ideal targets vary between cultivars. In this two-year study, the effect methods at different levels on quality and production, post-harvest storability physiological disorders, leaf nutrient content ‘Scilate’ apples were investigated southern Tasmania, Australia. Two methods, artificial bud extinction (ABE) hand (HT), compared three load: 3, 6, or 12 cm−2 limb cross-sectional area (LCSA), described as low, medium, high, respectively. During second season, all ABE HT treatments received additional chemical (CT). The results demonstrated that consistently outperformed terms improved set, return bloom, weight. parameters, such flesh firmness, total soluble solids, dry matter content, malic acid shape, also under regime, with these positive effects being clearest season. general, fruits obtained low medium loads, while was poor for high trees, but had slightly higher incidence internal browning (predominantly radial) softening after regular atmosphere storage. impacted mineral where N, Ca, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu increased K declined load. High load, irrespective induced severe biennial bearing, whereas, yield relatively ABE, even We conclude (around six LCSA) effective method managing optimizing apples.