Pruning is one of the orchard practices of great importance for the cultivation of sugar apple, influencing the phenomenon of floral induction in order to allow production out of season, which constitutes an important economic alternative for many producing areas conditions. The experiment was carried out from June 21st, to November, 15th 2000, in conditions of semi-arid region, in the town of Tanhaçu, Bahia state, Brazil, with the objective of evaluating the influence of pruning branches production with different diameters on vegetative growth, flowering and fruiting of sugar apple. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, seven replications and three plants per plot. The used treatments were: T1- thick branches (11-14 mm of diameter); T2- medium branches (7-10mm of diameter); T3- thin branches (3-6mm of diameter). The obtained results showed that under the studied conditions branches growth and flower vigour were higher in thick branches, although different diameters did not affect fruit quality (physical and chemical characteristics).
production; flower induction; frutification
