Effects of fruit thinning on fruit growth, sugars and purple spot in loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)

This work examines the effects of fruit thinning on fruit growth, sugar accumulation and incidence of purple spot in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). Thinning increased fruit growth and sugar contents of fruit. As total sugar concentration correlated significantly with the proportion of affected fruit, we conclude that thinning increased markedly the proportion of fruit affected by the disorder. Carbohydrate accumulation may be the factor responsible for the incidence of purple spot by accelerating fruit development.