Deficit Irrigation to Enhance Fruit Quality of the ‘African Rose’ Plum under the Egyptian Semi-Arid Conditions

Evolved in South Africa and released to market 2009, the ‘African Rose’ plum has been introduced grown under Egyptian semi-arid conditions since 2010. Within that time, this cultivar faced significant fruit quality issues, mainly poor color low total soluble solids (TSS). Several trials using foliarly applied growth regulators have conducted, but with little conspicuous results on yield quality. There is very limited information about relationship between irrigation regime for cultivar. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted study effect of deficit during 2019 2020 seasons. Five-year-old hedge growing trees were subjected three regimes: 100% (control), 80%, 60% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) after pit hardening stage until end harvest season (May June period) evaluated. Results indicated positively enhanced levels abscisic acid (ABA), phenols, anthocyanins improved TSS maturity index, although yield, acidity, size, firmness decreased. Deficit could be suggested as sustainable novel solution improve Egypt. Although some characteristics not improved, early harvested taste good start additional research solve other quality-related issues such conditions.