Effect of summer pruning on some fruit quality traits in Hayward kiwifruit

Introduction . The aim of our study was to analyze the effect of various levels of light availability in the fruit microenvironment (induced by summer pruning) on some fruit quality traits. Materials and methods . Two levels of summer pruning were set: removal of either 30% or 60% of the canopy leaf area. These treatments were compared with the control (unpruned vines). Two canopy layers (upper and lower) were identified in each treatment and in the control vines. At harvest, yield per cane and per shoot was recorded in the two canopy layers; fruit fresh weight, flesh firmness, total soluble solid content and total titratable acidity were measured. Fruit Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and…