The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different fruit pruning times and intensities on the phenology of 'Paluma' guava trees in two cultivation systems, in Pedro Canário, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in a split split plots scheme. The main plots were the cultivation systems (with and without irrigation), the split plots were the pruning times (November 10, 2005; December 9, 2005; January 13, 2006 and February 10, 2006), and the split split plots were the pruning intensities (heavy, medium and light). The period between pruning and the beginning of fruit ripening was between 182 (pruning in November and December) to 203 days (pruning in February). Fruit physiologic fall continued for 56 days after termination of flowering. Number of sprouts and branches were higher in irrigated plants subjected to light pruning. The largest number of fruits per branch occurred in plants subjected to light pruning in February. Independently of pruning time, plants subjected to heavy pruning provided the smallest number of fruits per branch and index of fruit set. The largest fruit size was produced in irrigated plants and in plants pruned in December and January.
Psidium guajava L.; irrigation; sprout; index of fruit set; fruit size
