The influence of meteorological parameters on fruit doubling in stone fruit species

Abstract

Exposure of stone fruit species to high temperatures during flower-bud differentiation leads to the occurrence of double pistils, which results in the development of double fruits. In order to analyze this phenomenon in our ecological conditions, tests were carried out during the three-year period (2011-2013) in the collection orchards of the Experimental farm “Radmilovac” of the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade. The influence of air temperature and rainfall on fruit doubling was studied in 16 cultivars of peaches and nectarines, 15 cultivars of apricot and 10 cultivars of plum. The average percentage of double fruits in a three-year period was the highest in peach (20.0%), followed by plum (10.9%) and apricot (4.1%). In peach and nectarine cultivars the average percentage of double fruits was the highest in 2013 (38.8%), and it was more than three times higher comparing with other two years. In plum cultivars the average percentage of double fruits was also the highest in 2013 (13.7%). In apricot cultivars the percentage of double fruits was the lowest in 2013 due to very low fruit set because of unfavorable weather conditions for pollination.