The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of girdling in summer and fall on fruit quality of `Pera' sweet orange. The experiment was a 4 x 2 total randomized design and was conducted in Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. Plants utilized in the experiment were chosen from a grove of `Pera' sweet orange budded on Rangpur lime, planted in a spacing of 8 x 4 m. Four girdling methods were studied: simple, double, pararell and no girdling; as well as two girdling times: summer and fall. Ten fruit parameters were evaluated: length, width, fresh weight, volume, rind, thickness, percentage of juice, total acidity, total soluble solids and ratio. Girdling in summer had a significant effect on fruit quality, while the best girdling method was the simple.
Citrus sinensis; fruit quality; orange
