IRRIGATION REGIMES AFFECT FRUIT SOLUBLE SOLIDS CONCENTRATION AND RATEOF WATER-LOSS OF O HENRY PEACHES

The effect of irrigation management strategies on the quality and stor age performance of 'O'Henry' peaches [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] was studied for two seasons. The deficit irrigation treatment induced a hi gher fruit soluble solids concentration and lower fruit weight. The ex cess irrigation treatment, compared to the optimum treatment, increase d the rate of fruit water loss without altering fruit quality and stor age performance. Scanning electron microscope observations indicated a higher density of trichomes on fruit from the deficit and optimum irr igation treatments than from the excess irrigation treatment. Light mi croscopy studies indicated that fruit from deficit and optimum irrigat ion had a continuous and much thicker cuticle than fruit from the exce ss irrigation treatment. These differences in exodermis structure may explain the high percentage of water loss from fruit from the excess i rrigation treatment compared to the deficit and optimum irrigation tre atments.