Effects of plastic soil mulch and cloches on fruit growth and development of low-chill peach cv. Flordaprince (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) in subtropical Australia

Abstract

The effects of cloches and plastic soil mulch were evaluated on the fruit development period and fruit quality of the low-chill peach cv. Flordaprince in subtropical Australia. The fruit development period was not shortened by cloche or plastic soil mulch treatments. However, mean total fruit weight per tree was significantly increased by 23.8% and individual fruit weight by 35.8% when paclobutrazol and cloche were combined. In contrast, for non-paclobutrazol treated trees under cloche, yield was reduced by 8.5% due to excessive vegetative growth caused by higher temperatures under cloche. Cloche, alone, significantly reduced fruit colour by 38% but Brix was not significantly affected by treatments.