GREENHOUSE FORCED AND FIELD GROWING OF MARAVILHA PEACH

Ownrooted 'Maravilha' potted peach trees were investigated under field and greenhouse conditions to determine the effect of the environment on the development of fruits and apical shoots. Higher greenhouse temp eratures soon after bloom hastened fruit growth rate and shortened the fruit development period without influencing harvested fruit size. Fi eld temperatures during the Stage I of fruit growth were likely to be cooler than the optimum. Furthermore, Stage II of fruit growth was pro longed under field conditions thus fruits grown in the greenhouse from bloom onward reached harvest maturity 9 days earlier than those growi ng in the field. Absolute and relative shoot growth was enhanced by hi gher greenhouse temperatures.