EFFECT OF FLOWER THINNING ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF ‘`STANLEY`’ PLUM (PRUNUS DOMESTICA L.)

Plum is the most important fruit crop for cultivation in Serbia. However, a small amount of plum sold as fresh due to its poor quality. In order improve quality and obtain regular high yield chemical blossom thinning agents were applied. The experiment was conducted on seven-year-old trees cultivar `Stanley` which planted distance 5x5 m. Ammonium thiosulphate ethephon applied next treatments: 1) ammonium 1.5% (ATS); 2) 0.015% (E); 3) + (ATS E); 4) hand (HT); 5) untreated control treatment (UTC). Chemical treatments performed once during phase full bloom, while after fall unfertilized fruitlets at end May. Parameters analyzed yield, size, weight, pit firmness, shape index, soluble solids content, total acid content harvested fruits per time unit. obtained results have shown that ATS E, HT significantly reduced number compared treatment. tree only E Other compensated smaller with larger size. Since size treated trees, unit significant There no differences among terms content.