Abstract
This study was conducted in the apricot orchard of Hort. & Land Scape Dept./ Collage of Agriculture / University of Baghdad / Abu Ghraib during 2009 and 2010 growing seasons to study the response of apricot trees cv. Zaini to three techniques of pruning ( control, thinning out of 40 – 50% from branches number and heading back 40 – 50% from length annually shoots) and time of pruning ( 5/12, 5/1 and 5/2 of each season). Results showed that techniques of and timing of pruning together or alone aid to significantly effects on leaf area, chlorophyll content, fruit set and fruit weight , whereas the timing were unaffected on dry matter percentage in leaves, T.S.S and acidity. The treatment of thinning out 40-50% + 5/1 timing was superior in vegetative characteristics, while the treatment heading back of 40-50% + 5/2 timing was superior with fruit characteristics. Acidity percentage was unaffected with pruning treatments.
