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Abstract
Control of apple trees productivity, during the first years of bearing is
essential for maintaining high and regular yields in the entire exploitation period.
Removing redundant fruitlets has to be done every year, either by hand or using
chemical thinning compounds. The object of this research was to optimize the
intensity of chemical fruit thinning according to yield and income in Golden
Delicious apple orchard, in the second and third fruiting season. Three rates of 6-
benzyladenine (BA) were applied to thin fruits: 100, 150 and 200 mg/l. Calculated
income decreased after BA application by 12,5-21,5% compared to the untreated
group. The most efficient treatment was 200 mg/l BA, regarding average fruit
weight, diameter and yield which nearly reached the planned yields. Additional
correction of fruit number per tree by hand thinning was the least necessary after
treatment with 200 mg/l BA.