Mogućnost kemijskog prorjeđivanja breskve

Trends in intensive peach production point to a constant need to reduce production costs, which implies the need for finding quality solutions for thinning peaches. Thinning is in most cases carried out manually, which represents the most expensive technological operation. Chemical thinning was conducted in 2013 (Osijek, eastern Croatia) on cultivars ‘Redhaven’ and ‘Dixired’, age 14 years with planting distance 4 × 2 m (1250 trees/ha) on Prunus persica L. seedling rootstock. The individually treatments included different chemical concentrations of ATS (1, 5 and 3 %) and soybean oil (5 %). All treatments applied to the observed varieties had a positive impact in reducing the number of fruits as compared to the control. Reduction in the percentage of the fruit at ‘Dixired’ ranged from 53 % (5 % soybean oil) to 73 % (3 % ATS), or the 64 % at ‘Redhaven’ (ATS 1.5 %) to 85 % (3 % ATS). Treatment ATS (3 %) was significantly more effective as compared to other treatments for variety ‘Dixired’ or ATS (3 %) and soybean oil (5 %) in the variety ‘Redhaven’ were significantly more effective compared to the ATS (1.5 %). Based on pomological analyzes all treatments with ATS applied on the cultivar Dixired resulted in significantly higher fruit weight, while treatment with soybean oil resulted in a significantly greater fruit firmness in Redhaven. The results indicate the potential use of the ATS on the cultivar Redhaven and ‘Dixired’ in order to achieve a balanced control of tree crop load and fruit quality while, at the same time reducing the consumption of human labor. The ATS and soybean oil with regard to the composition and origin of the active substances exhibit the full potential use in ecological mode of stone fruit production.