主梢修剪对‘巨峰’葡萄果实品质与香气成分的影响

以5年生‘贝达’嫁接‘巨峰’葡萄为试材,研究不同主梢修剪技术对果实品质及香气成分的影响。结果表明:主梢二次成梢修剪处理果实的单粒重、可溶性固形物含量、可溶性糖含量和维生素C含量显著高于主梢三次成梢修剪处理和传统修剪(对照),可滴定酸含量显著低于主梢三次成梢修剪处理和对照;不同主梢修剪处理和对照之间香气物质组成和含量差异较大,其中主梢二次成梢修剪处理香气物质的含量和种类均高于主梢三次成梢修剪处理和对照。‘巨峰’葡萄的特征香气物质—酯类物质尤其是起关键作用的乙酸乙酯的含量,主梢二次成梢修剪处理显著高于主梢三次成梢修剪处理和对照。综上,主梢二次成梢修剪处理显著提升了‘巨峰’葡萄果实的品质和风味,因此,建议‘巨峰’葡萄在主梢管理上采取主梢二次成梢修剪技术,即花前7~15 d于花序前留3片叶进行第1次摘心,待顶端副梢长至新梢总长120~150 cm时进行第2次摘心,随后待顶端副梢展叶2~3片时反复摘心,新梢长度一直保留120~150 cm。     

4个四倍体玫瑰香味鲜食葡萄品种与其亲本果实香气成分分析

【目的】分析4个四倍体玫瑰香味鲜食葡萄品种的芳香化合物组分,为深入了解四倍体葡萄品种提供理论依据。【方法】以4个四倍体玫瑰香味鲜食葡萄品种(‘早黑宝’‘秋黑宝’‘晚黑宝’和‘四倍体玫瑰香’)及其二倍体亲本‘瑰宝’‘早玫瑰香’‘秋红’‘玫瑰香’成熟期果实为材料,利用顶空固相微萃取-气质联用技术对果实的芳香化合物组分进行测定,采用面积归一法对香气成分进行定量。【结果】各品种果实芳香物质成分种类和相对含量差异较大。醛类物质相对含量最高,其中2-己烯醛占34.40%~49.81%,‘四倍体玫瑰香’与亲本‘玫瑰香’无显著差异,‘早黑宝’和‘晚黑宝’均低于亲本,而‘秋黑宝’介于父母本中间;己醛占16.28%~28.43%,‘四倍体玫瑰香’显著高于‘玫瑰香’,‘早黑宝’与‘瑰宝’无显著差异,但低于父本‘早玫瑰香’,‘秋黑宝’和‘晚黑宝’均高于‘瑰宝’,但低于父本‘秋红’或与‘秋红’无显著差异。除‘秋红’外,其余7个葡萄果实中均含有相对含量较高的萜烯醇(7.24%~28.60%),‘四倍体玫瑰香’最高,‘早玫瑰香’最低,‘四倍体玫瑰香’仅比‘玫瑰香’高出3.94%,‘早黑宝’分别比父母本高出20.22%、2.07%,而‘晚黑宝’和‘秋黑宝’分别比母本低13.21%、7.87%。【结论】里那醇和香叶醇对7个玫瑰香味葡萄品种果实香气贡献最大。二倍体玫瑰香味葡萄加倍后,主要呈香物质相对含量未因染色体加倍而加倍,而与亲本玫瑰香味浓郁程度有关。8个葡萄品种果实芳香物质中的主要成分是C6醛。     

副梢简化修剪对‘巨峰’葡萄果实品质与香气成分的影响

以5年生‘贝达’砧‘巨峰’葡萄为试材,研究不同副梢简化修剪技术对其果实品质及香气成分的影响。结果表明:副梢留1片叶绝后摘心处理果实的单粒重、可溶性固形物含量、可溶性糖含量和维生素C含量显著高于副梢全部去除、副梢留2片叶绝后摘心、副梢不摘心3个处理,可滴定酸含量则呈相反趋势;副梢简化修剪不同处理之间香气物质组成和含量差异较大,其中‘巨峰’葡萄的特征香气物质——酯类物质的含量,以副梢留1片叶绝后摘心处理最高,其次是副梢留2片叶绝后摘心处理,以副梢全部去除处理最低,同时副梢留1片叶绝后摘心处理未检测出呈令人不愉快风味的香气物质。综上,副梢留1片叶绝后摘心处理显著提升了‘巨峰’葡萄果实的品质和风味,因此,建议‘巨峰’葡萄在副梢管理上采取留1片叶绝后摘心的简化修剪技术。     

4个无核鲜食葡萄品种及其亲本果实香气成分分析

【目的】研究以母本‘瑰宝’和父本‘无核白鸡心’杂交选育出的无核葡萄新品种‘早康宝’、‘无核翠宝’、‘无核丽红宝’和‘晶红宝’果实的芳香化合物组分,为了解其品质特性提供理论依据。【方法】采用顶空固相微萃取结合气质联用技术对这4个无核葡萄及其亲本果实香气成分进行分析测定,研究4个无核葡萄及其亲本成熟果实芳香物质差异。【结果】6个葡萄品种果实的芳香物质成分种类和相对含量差异较大。醛类物质是6个葡萄品种果实中主要的芳香物质,其中相对含量最高的是具有绿叶清香和果香的2-己烯醛,在35.88%~50.04%,‘早康宝’中含量最低,‘丽红宝’最高;其次是具有绿叶清香和果香的己醛,相对含量在16.91%~30.41%,‘瑰宝’最低。‘瑰宝’、‘无核白鸡心’及其具有香味的杂交后代‘早康宝’和‘无核翠宝’中含有相对含量较高的萜烯醇(11.21%~25.39%),特别是里那醇,其中‘瑰宝’含量最高为25.20%,‘无核白鸡心’含量最低(0.18%),而‘丽红宝’和‘晶红宝’中含量甚微或无;其次是香叶醇,‘早康宝’中最高14.58%,‘无核白鸡心’和‘无核翠宝’分别占8.20%、4.42%。【结论】里那醇+香叶醇+橙花醇+香茅醇之和对4个玫瑰香味葡萄品种(‘瑰宝’、‘无核白鸡心’、‘早康宝’和‘无核翠宝’)果实玫瑰香气贡献最大。C6化合物中的2-己烯醛是6个葡萄品种果实芳香物质中的主要成分。     

不同新梢留量对‘赤霞珠’葡萄果实品质的影响

新梢管理对葡萄果实品质的形成有着重要影响,该试验选用山西尧京酒庄的五年生酿酒葡萄‘赤霞珠’为试材,采用Y形架势栽培,在新梢花序显现并能分辨时,进行定梢处理,分别设置平均单株新梢留量为10、15,并以原单株新梢留20为对照,探究在V形叶幕下,3种不同的新梢密度对‘赤霞珠’葡萄果实品质的影响。结果表明:对于采用Y形架势栽培的酿酒品种‘赤霞珠’,当新梢留量为15时,叶片净光合速率相对较高,成熟葡萄果实基本生化指标、次生代谢物质以及单体花色苷、单体酚类物质含量综合表现较好。在山西晋中地区,对于采用Y形架栽培的酿酒品种‘赤霞珠’,设置单新梢留量为15时,有利于成熟葡萄果实酿酒品质的形成。     

不同浓度茉莉酸甲酯对葡萄果实香气物质的影响

以‘阳光玫瑰’葡萄为材料，在幼果期（盛花后2周）喷施0.01、0.10 mmol/L茉莉酸甲酯（MeJA）和清水，于成熟期测定果实品质指标。结果表明，相比对照，MeJA处理的果实可溶性固形物含量显著升高，可滴定酸含量显著降低，果实口感更佳。MeJA处理的果实主要香气物质（C6化合物、萜烯类物质）总含量显著高于对照，果品风味增强；相比于0.01 mmol/L MeJA处理，0.10 mmol/L MeJA处理的葡萄果实C6化合物总量降低，萜烯类物质总量升高，果品玫瑰香味更加浓郁。综上，于葡萄幼果期喷施0.10mmol/L MeJA，可显著提升果实口感及风味，从而提高果实品质。     

不同葡萄品种对嫁接‘阳光玫瑰’生长及果实品质的影响

作者在4个原栽葡萄品种上绿枝嫁接‘阳光玫瑰’,探索原有葡萄品种对嫁接品种‘阳光玫瑰’生长及果实品质的影响。结果表明,4个原栽葡萄品种均适宜绿枝嫁接‘阳光玫瑰’,其中在‘夏黑’上嫁接的综合表现最优,物候期较早,新梢健壮,单穗重和单粒重最高,是4个原栽葡萄品种中最适宜改接‘阳光玫瑰’的。     

水分胁迫对‘玫瑰香’葡萄果实挥发性化合物及相关基因表达的影响

以10年生‘玫瑰香’葡萄为试材,对其进行不同程度的水分胁迫处理。利用气相色谱—质谱联用技术(GC–MS)测定果实香气组分,采用荧光定量PCR法检测香叶基二磷酸合成酶基因(VvGPPS)、芳樟醇/橙花醇合成酶基因(VvRiLinNer)、萜类合成酶基因(VvTPS)和类胡萝卜素裂解双加氧酶基因(VvCCD1)在果实中的表达水平。结果表明,重度胁迫可显著降低‘玫瑰香’果实百粒质量和可溶性固形物含量,轻度胁迫与对照差异不显著;水分胁迫对采收期果实可滴定酸含量和总酚含量影响较小。本研究中对照、轻度胁迫和重度胁迫分别检测出41、43和33种挥发性化合物,其中醛类化合物是最主要的挥发性物质,萜烯类次之,酚类和酯类物质含量较低。轻度胁迫可显著提高‘玫瑰香’葡萄果实挥发性化合物总量,分别较对照和重度胁迫高34.74%和36.92%,其中酯类、醛类和酚类物质含量均为最高,而醇类物质含量最低。重度胁迫酸类和醇类物质含量显著高于其他两个处理。具有玫瑰花香味的萜烯类物质的含量随着水分胁迫程度的加剧而增加。水分胁迫上调了果实中VvTPS的表达量,但不利于VvRiLinNer和VvCCD1基因的表达。轻度胁迫果实中VvGPPS表达量显著高于对照,但重度胁迫降低了该基因在果实中的表达量。综上,适度水分胁迫可显著提高‘玫瑰香’葡萄挥发性化合物的含量,有利于葡萄果实品质的提升。     

不同砧木对‘赤霞珠’葡萄生长发育的影响

【目的】探究不同砧木对‘赤霞珠’葡萄树体生长、果实发育、着色效果等的影响差异。【方法】选择‘SO4’‘5BB’‘3309C’和‘101-14M’4个砧木与‘赤霞珠’葡萄进行绿枝嫁接,对初期结果植株的新梢生长情况、果粒质量、糖酸含量以及果实着色指标动态变化等进行实时测定。【结果】供试砧木品种均可促进‘赤霞珠’葡萄新梢生长,提高果粒质量,以‘赤霞珠’/‘3309C’(CS/3309C)效果较为明显。各个处理的净光合速率日变化均呈双峰曲线。供试砧木均可显著提高‘赤霞珠’葡萄净光合速率,亦可改变其峰值出现时间。果实生长发育过程中,砧木‘SO4’可显著延缓果实可溶性固形物、还原糖含量的积累,可滴定酸含量较其他处理偏高。各处理果实颜色指标L、a、b、h、c值变化趋势一致,CS/SO4的h值较其他处理显著偏高。【结论】供试砧木均可提高‘赤霞珠’葡萄生长势、果实质量以及净光合速率;砧木‘SO4’可延迟‘赤霞珠’葡萄成熟约20 d。     

三种鲜食葡萄在山西省引种表现及与亲本比较

以从河北省昌黎市引进的‘春光’‘蜜光’‘宝光’与其亲本为试材，采用田间调查方法进行物候期和植株抗病性的比较，采用物性分析仪对果实硬度进行分析，研究了自育品种在当地的品质表现，以期发现适合清徐及黄土高原产区种植的葡萄新品种，优化地区葡萄产业结构，满足多元化市场需求。结果表明：‘春光’‘蜜光’‘宝光’3种鲜食后代属欧美杂种，在山西省清徐县表现果实品质上等，抗病性强。其中，‘蜜光’成熟期与父本‘早黑宝’相似，在8月初，为早熟品种；‘宝光’成熟期与其母本‘巨峰’相似，在8月下旬，为中熟品种。‘蜜光’和‘宝光’果穗较松，‘蜜光’葡萄果实含淡玫瑰香味，‘宝光’葡萄含玫瑰香味和草莓香味，‘蜜光’和‘宝光’葡萄果皮和果肉硬度差异不显著，但均显著高于双亲。‘春光’葡萄果皮颜色为紫黑，果粉厚度较厚，其果实可溶性固形物含量达22.21%,且‘春光’葡萄果皮和果肉硬度最高，表现较好的耐储性。3种鲜食葡萄后代抗病性与亲本相似，均抗霜霉病和白腐病，其中‘春光’葡萄抗白腐病优于‘巨峰’。3种后代均适合在山西省清徐县推广栽培，其中‘春光’葡萄果实品质表现优于母本‘巨峰’,且具有母本的草莓香，表现较强的抗病性，可作为替...     

Optimum leaf area index in T-bar trained kiwifruit vines

Summary

The effect of leaf area index (LAI) on canopy growth, light interception, yield, fruit growth and quality and return bloom of kiwifruit were examined in 1990 and 1991. Different LAIs were obtained in the 1990 season with defoliation treatment made precociously at different intensities, in a diffuse way, uniformly in the whole canopy. At the end of canopy development LAIs of 3.6,3.3,3.1,2.6 and 1.8 were obtained and evaluated. The kiwifruit vines with a bud load of 680?700 and LAIs of 3.3 and 3.6 in 1990, showed an optimum and constant yield (>90 kg per vine), good average fruit weight (>100 g) and high fruit quality in both years, and also good return bloom the following season. The reduction of LAI to 2.6 and 1.8 drastically reduced, in the year of LAI imposition, both yield (?18.5% and ?30%, respectively) and mean fruit weight (?18.6% and ?29.1%, respectively) compared with vines with an LAI higher than 3.1. In the same treatments, the soluble solids concentration in the fruit was significantly decreased and a great reduction in numbers of fruiting shoots and numbers of fruits per fruiting shoot were observed in the year following the LAI imposition. In vines with the same bud load, fruit number and an LAI of 3.1, small variations in yield and fruit weight in the year of defoliation treatments were recorded, but in the following season the yield was significantly reduced (?14 kg per vine) due mainly to a decrease in the number of fruiting shoots (?14%). In kiwifruit vines with low LAI (2.6 and 1.8) nearly all fruits present in the canopy ripen, with no significant fruit drop. At low LAI, the sink strength of the fruit was greater and more extended so that vine growth and the plants reserves were restricted. Under the conditions of this experiment, an LAI higher than 3.3, corresponding to a leaf area-fruit ratio higher than 600 cm² per fruit, is necessary to obtain regular vine growth and yield, optimum fruit size and quality and return bloom the following season.     

Effects of grafting height of MM106 rootstock on growth,lateral shoot formation and yield in apple trees

Summary

Between 2004 and 2008, the effects of different grafting heights on sylleptic shoots were tested in the apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Gloster’, and cumulative fruit yields were evaluated. MM106 apple rootstocks were grafted 10, 20, 40, or 60 cm above soil level in August 2004. The results showed that an increased grafting height significantly decreased tree height in both cultivars. The tallest and shortest trees were observed at grafting heights of 10 cm (153.0 and 170.0 cm) and 60 cm (141.3 and 143.5 cm) in ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Gloster’, respectively.Among the various grafting heights tested, 60 cm in ‘Granny Smith’ and 20 cm in ‘Gloster’ gave the largest stem diameters (17.6 mm and 16.8 mm, respectively). The number of lateral shoots increased significantly with increased grafting height in both cultivars. The largest numbers of lateral shoots in ‘Granny Smith’ (10.75) and ‘Gloster’ (2.00) were obtained from a grafting height of 60 cm, while 2.55 and zero lateral shoots occurred at 10 cm grafting height in ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Gloster’, respectively. Shoot lengths decreased significantly by increasing the grafting height. Grafting heights of 10 cm and 60 cm resulted in the tallest and shortest shoots in both cultivars. Cumulative fruit yields were significantly affected by grafting height in both cultivars. The highest yield was found for a 60 cm grafting height in both ‘Granny Smith’ (11.295 kg tree^–1) and ‘Gloster’ (4.818 kg tree^–1).The results of this study suggest that grafting heights of 40 cm and 60 cm have the potential to promote branching and early bearing for apple fruit production in sustainable and organic agricultural systems.     

单株留芽量及结果母枝剪留长度对猕猴桃结果性能的影响

对栽植株行距3m×4m的美味猕猴桃秦美品种连续进行了3年试验,单株分别剪留250、300、350、400个芽处理后,平均单株新梢数、叶面积指数、落叶率与留芽数量呈正相关,叶幕下层的光强度、净光合率与留芽数量呈负相关;单株果枝数、果实数及单位面积产量均以留400芽处理最高,但平均单果重最小,88g以上的优质果产量最低。综合评价以单株剪留350个有效芽的效果最佳,优级果产量达到2102.7kg/666.7m2。结果母枝分别剪留7、12、17个有效芽处理后,平均每母枝的结果枝数、果实数、产量与留芽数量呈正相关,均以17芽处理最高,分别达到9.5个、30.4个和3.09kg,各处理间的单果重差异不显著。     

优质厚皮甜瓜新品种‘明珠1号’

 ‘明珠1号’属早中熟甜瓜品种, 果实发育期35～40 d。植株生长势中等, 综合抗性好, 容易坐果, 丰产性好, 果实圆形、白色、光皮, 单果质量1.5 kg左右, 耐贮运。果肉白色, 厚4 cm左右, 腔小, 肉质松软, 清香, 含糖量16%以上, 口感风味佳。     

苹果园种植牧草对幼树生长及15N–尿素吸收、利用的影响

以两年生红富士/平邑甜茶为试材,采用田间小区试验及15N同位素标记示踪法,研究了低氮（50 kg ? hm-2）和中氮（100 kg ? hm-2）条件下分别种植3种牧草（白三叶、黑麦草和鼠茅草）对苹果幼树生长及15N–尿素吸收、利用的影响。结果表明,春梢停长期,与单作苹果相比,种植牧草后苹果植株生物量、吸氮量及15N肥料利用率显著降低,这在低氮处理下尤为明显;而到秋梢停长期,与单作苹果相比,种植牧草后苹果植株生物量、吸氮量、15N肥料利用率及根系活力显著提高。至秋梢停长期,0 ~ 20 cm土层15N丰度及总氮含量为种植白三叶 > 种植鼠茅草 > 种植黑麦草 > 单作苹果,而在20 ~ 40 cm及40 ~ 60 cm土层15N丰度及总氮含量为单作苹果 > 种植黑麦草 > 种植鼠茅草 > 种植白三叶,表明种植白三叶、黑麦草和鼠茅草降低了氮素的淋溶损失,有利于氮肥的保持,从而提高氮肥利用率,促进苹果幼树的生长。     

Use of paclobutrazol sprays at mid-anthesis for increasing fruit size and yield of avocado (Persea americana Mill. cv. Hass)

Mid-anthesis foliar sprays of paclobutrazol (PB) at 2.5, 1.25 and 0.62 g a.i. I-1 reduced spring growth and altered dry-matter distribution in fruiting spring shoots of ‘Hass’ avocado.(Persea americana Mill.) trees. There was a decrease in dry matter allocation to vegetative components and an increase in allocation to fruit. The starch concentration in the wood of spring shoots on trees treated with 2.5 g a.i. I-1 foliar PB was increased by ca. 70% compared with spring shoots from trees of other treatments. The mid-anthesis foliar treatments also reduced summer growth by ca. 20%. Trunk injection of PB at 0.2 g a.i. m~2 of canopy silhouette area when the spring growth matured, in addition to a mid- anthesis foliar spray of 1.25 g a.i. I-1, reduced the length of summer shoots by 36% when compared with untreated trees. The spray treatments of 2.5 and 1.25 g a.i. T1 PB at mid- anthesis increased the mean fruit size at harvest by 16 and 11% respectively. Fruit yield was not significantly affected by PB applications on an annual basis. However, the PB spray treatments of 1.25 and 0.62 g a.i. I-1 significantly increased the two year cumulative yield by ca. 63%. There was no significant effect from the trunk injection treatment on fruit yield in either the season of treatment or the following season.     

Effect of different soil moisture regimes and canopy wetting on ‘Baccara’ roses

The combined effect of different irrigation regimes and canopy wetting treatments on flower yield and flower quality was examined with ‘Baccara’ roses. Total yields of 390 flowers per m², of which 290 were of saleable quality for the period October–May, were obtained when the soil water tension at a depth of 15–20 cm was maintained below 4–6 centibar (cb). An increase in water tension up to 10–15 cb caused a 10 % decrease in yield. Wetting the canopy reduced the number of flowers and did not counteract the reduction in yield caused by the increase in soil water tension.Wetting the canopy slightly reduced plant surface temperature, mainly on dry and hot days. Wetting also increased the weight of flower buds obtained under irrigation treatments which maintained soil moisture tension below 5 cb (a low soil moisture treatment). The weight per unit length of flower stem increased when the canopy was wetted under all irrigation treatments. In spring, canopy wetting reduced the decrease in flower weight and in leaf area, and completely prevented the decrease in flower stem weight.     

改良高干开心形富士苹果树冠不同层次相对光照强度分布与枝叶的关系

以12 a生富士苹果(Malus domestica Borkh cv.Red Fuji)为试材,研究了改良高干开心形树冠不同层次相对光照强度的分布、季节动态变化与枝叶数量间的关系。结果表明,树冠相对光照强度从上部到下部逐渐降低,同一冠层内相对光照强度从内膛到外围逐步增加;树冠最上层5—10月呈平稳趋势,而中下部5—7月呈下降趋势,7月份后趋于稳定;小于30%的相对光照强度的树冠体积在年生长周期内逐渐增加:5—6月份为15%,7—8月27%,9—10月30%。新梢的空间分布研究表明,>30 cm的长枝(梢)、15～30 cm的中长枝(梢)、5～15 cm中枝(梢)和小于5 cm的短枝(梢)分别集中分布在冠层高度2.0m以上、1.5～2.5m、1.0～2.0m和1.0～2.5m冠层内;生长季总枝量100.39万条/hm2,长、中长、中和短梢占总枝量的比例分别为6.44%、5.52%、14.40%、73.64%,多于6片叶的短梢占总短枝量的42.08%。应用多元统计分析的方法建立了树冠相对光照强度与枝(梢)叶量关系的回归方程,相对光照强度值与累计枝梢数量和叶面积系数呈负指数关系,苹果优质生产和最佳利用光能的群体结构参数为总枝(梢)量小于96万条/hm2,叶面积系数控制在3.9以下,长、中、短梢比例分别为10.91%、13.70%和75.39%。     

“国庆1号”温州蜜柑结果母枝状况与结果的关系

选用20 a生“国庆一号”温州蜜柑盛果多花中庸树,随机取样调查结果母枝粗度、长度、其上有叶结果枝和无叶结果枝数量、有叶结果枝叶数、长度以及它们的坐果率.结果表明:有叶结果枝及无叶结果枝数不随结果母枝粗度的增加而有规律的增减,但随母枝长度的增加有减少的趋势.结果母枝粗度在0.4～0.5 cm范围内,有叶结果枝和无叶结果枝坐果率都最高,分别为7.8％和27.5％.结果母枝长度在0.1～10 cm范围内,有叶结果枝和无叶结果枝坐果率都最高,分别为7.0％和21.5％.结果母枝粗度与有叶结果枝及无叶结果枝坐果率无显著相关关系.母枝长度与有叶结果枝坐果率无显著相关关系,但与无叶结果枝坐果率呈显著正相关.有叶结果枝叶片数越少的有叶结果枝数反而越多,有叶结果枝叶数与有叶结果枝数呈显著正相关;总的来说,叶数越多,有叶结果枝坐果率越高.以短有叶结果枝数量大,但有叶结果枝长度与有叶结果枝坐果率呈显著正相关.     

Effect of Leaf Number and Area on the Fruit Growth of Regular and Biennial Bearing Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Grown Under North Indian Conditions

Abstract

The optimum leaf number required for normal fruit growth in the regular bearing mango cultivar ‘Amrapali’ and the biennial bearing cultivars ‘Chausa’, ‘Dashehari’ and ‘Langra’ were studied by isolating individual fruits with known numbers of supporting leaves by shoot girdling at the time of fruit set. There were significant differences in the leaf area (249.01-1817.10 cm2), fresh weight (7.0-77.0 g) and dry weight (3.7-50.0 g) of leaves on shoots having 30, 20, 10 and 5 leaves as compared with control in different cultivars. In both types of cultivars, there was a progressive reduction in fruit size in terms of total fruit, pulp, peel, and seed weight with decreasing numbers of supporting leaves, however, a minimum reduction (2.4%) in fruit growth in ‘Amrapali’ was noticed with 30 supporting leaves. A nonsignificant difference in photosynthetic rate with varying number of leaves was found but its efficiency in leaves was higher in ‘Amrapali’ as compared with biennial bearing cultivars. Starch accumulation in the leaves was reduced by shoot girdling. The stomatal resistance of the leaves of girdled shoots was comparable with that of leaves on control shoots. In all the cultivars except ‘Amrapali’ it was observed that 30 leaves, the maximum retained on a shoot, could not support the growth of a single fruit to normal size. The data on rate of photosynthesis in different pool size of leaves and fruit growth in girdled and nongirdled shoots clearly show that fruit development depends not only on the current assimilates but also to a great extent on reserves. A 14CO2 feeding experiment showed a higher rate of carbon fixation in the leaves of girdled shoots than in the control shoots, but the translocation of 14C assimilated to the developing fruits on the girdled and control shoots was comparable. The results also indicated that developing fruits are major sinks for current photosynthates as more than 60 percent of the 14C exported from the treated leaf was found in the fruit in all instances.