Effect of CPPU and pollination on fruiting performance, fruit quality and storage life of kiwi fruit (cv Hayward)

A large-scale experiment was carried out on open and hand-pollinated kiwifruit vines to evaluate the practical importance of CPPU, a diphenylurea derivative, on vine cropping performance, fruit ripening and storage life, and to study carry-over effects the year following treatment. CPPU always increased yield and average fruit weight but tended to reduce bud-break and bud fertility the year following application. No particular differences were found between treated and control fruit in terms of content of starch, soluble sugars and organic acids. Treated fruit had only slightly higher soluble solids contents and lower flesh firmness during fruit growth, but no differences were observed at the end of storage life.