changes in the pattern of flowering and fruit production in ‘nagami’ kumquat using paclobutrazol

flowering and fruit production of ‘nagami’ kumquat is somewhat different from other citrus species because usually have three flowering peak in a year which can lead to producing fruits with different quality on a tree. considering the proper effect of paclobutrazol on raising citrus flowering, a pot experiment with three levels of paclobutrazol (zero, 0.1 and 0.5 g ai per tree) and six replications was conducted as a complete randomized block design. the results showed that paclobutrazol had effective effect on kumquat flowering and fruit set. effect of paclobutrazol on shoot growth before and after the flowering period and the number of shoots after flowering period was significant and led to reducing them. all paclobutrazol treatments led to early flowering, increasing the number of first and second flower flush and fruit production. in terms of fruit quality, significant decrease in the length, diameter/length ratio and acidity of fruits was observed. in general, paclobutrazol caused a marked increase in fruit production of ‘nagami’ kumquat, while retained most of the desirable traits of fruit.