Abstract

This study was conducted at Horticultural Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad during 2011-12 and 2012-13 to assess the effects of pruning times on the fruit characteristics and yield of ber (Zyziphus mauritiana Lamk.) cv. Alu-bukhara. Experiment was laid out in RCBD with five replications. Each replication contained two plants per treatment. Hence there were total 30 plants.Three pruning treatments were applied i.e. T1 (pruning on 15th May) T2 (pruning on 30th May) and T3 (pruning on 15th June). Maximum number of branches per tree (23.00), days to flowering (65 days), early blooming (26th August to 30th October), highest fruit weight (32.45g), maximum fruit size (38.50 mm2 ), highest TSS (16.62%), highest sugar (6.25%) and maximum vitamin-C contents (132.65mg/100mg) in T1, while minimum fruit weight (24.74g) and minimum fruit size (30.71mm2 ) was recorded in T3. Highest acidity percentage (0.57%) was recorded in T3. Fruit yield was also highest (208kg per tree) in T1 while lowest (176 kg per tree) in T3. It was concluded that 15th May is most suitable pruning time to maximize fruit yield and quality in ber cv. Alu-Bukhara.