The present research worked on hand thinning and girdling
processes to indicate their effects on yield and fruit quality of Dorsett golden
apples var. (Malus domestica, Beck.). Results of two successive seasons
1999 and 2000 revealed that hand thinning of fruitlets and girdling of trees
three weeks after fruit set significantly increased fruit yield per tree. The
yielded fruits frem the treated trees comparing with the control ones were
higher in weight, dimensions (aiameter and length), TSS %, TSS/acid ratio
and carotene pigments in fruit skin in both seasons of study. On the other
hand, such fruits were recorded lower values for firmness, acidity % in fruit
juice and total chlorophylls in fru.; skin.