Can pruning be utilized to minimize aberrant fruit formation in kiwifruit?

Hayward’ (Actinidia deliciosa A. Chev C.F.Liang and A.R.Ferguson) is a kiwifruit cultivar preferred for its high yield and quality. However, its tendency to produce aberrant (flat or fasciated) fruits causes low marketability and therefore low income. This research was planned to determine if pruning can be used as a strategy to minimize aberrant fruit formation. It was conducted for two growing seasons on a commercial vineyard located at Kepez, Canakkale, by applying three different levels of winter pruning (4, 8 and 16 buds per cane). At harvest, normal and aberrant fruits per vine were counted and yield and quality analyses were made. Results showed that pruning did not have an effect on minimizing the aberrant fruit formation and yield characteristics of the vines of ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit at a statistically important level.