PRODUCTION CYCLE OF RASPBERRY CULTIVARS (Rubus idaeus) UNDER DRASTIC PRUNING IN THE SOUTH OF MINAS GERAIS CONDICTIONS

The production cycle knowledge allows a more detailed description of a phenological stage enabling increases in the fruit production and quality. The cultivars chosen Polana, Batum, Autumn Bliss, Heritage and Golden Bliss were studied under edafoclimatic condictions of southern of Minas Gerais state from the pruning until the fruit production and development on the primary and secondary sterns, and apical gemstones. Stems that sprouted after winter pruning were marked and followed for the beginning and at the end of the reproductive phases. For the determination of the curve of fruit development, samples were taken weekly from the beginning of fruit formation until harvest. It was observed that there was anticipation and prolongation of harvesting time, and there were also two growth spurts of shoots from the root. The cultivars differed in their production cycle behavior in primary and secondary stems. The apical gemstones showed low capacity for budding and flowering. Fruits of different cultivars displayed simple sigmoidal growth pattern.