INFLUENCE OF THINNING AND FOLIAR FERTILIZ ATION OF PON KAN TANGERINE TREES (CITRUS-RETICULATA BLANCO) ON THE QUALITY OF THE FRUITS

On eight-year old 'Pon Kan' tangerine trees distinct levels of thinnin g (9, 7, 5, 3 and 1 fruit/branch) combined with foliar fertilization ( 0 and 4 applications) of chelated macro and micronutrients was assesse d at the ''Escola Superior de Agricultura de Lavras (ESAL), in Lavras, MG, Brazil. The statistical design was in randomized blocks in a fact orial scheme, with six replications, and the experimental plots consis ted of one branch with nine fruits. The foliar fertilization with comm ercial fertilizer containing N, Mg, S. 13. Mn and Zn was carried out a t 12-day intervals since February 1991. The manual thinning increased the fruit weight and diameter and the volume of juice. The foliar fert ilization increased statisticaly the fruit weight but not the fruit di ameter nor the volume of juice.