Influence of Defoliation by Marssonina Blotch on Vegetative Growth and Fruit Quality in 'Fuji'/M.9 Apple Tree

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of defoliation by Marssonina blotch (Diplocarpon mali Harada et Sawamura) on vegetative growth and fruit quality in 'Fuji'/M.9 apple tree. Soluble solid contents decreased when the defoliation percentage by Marssonina blotch was over 10% before the end of September, and fruit weight decreased when percentage of defoliation was over 30%. Fruit red color and starch contents tend to decrease as percentage of defoliation near the fruit increased. Return bloom, fruit weight, and shoot growth the following year tend to decrease as percentage of defoliation increased. Photosynthetic rate of healthy leaves in bourse shoot during the end of September was maintained about 10 mu mol.m(-2).s(-1), effects in increasing fruit growth and soluble solid contents after the end of September. Photosynthetic rates for the damaged leaf, damaged area was over 50% on the leaf surface, while 30% of the photosynthetic rates of healthy leaf are without damage applied with Marssonina blotch at the end of September. The results show that the decrease of fruit quality in defoliation treatments may be caused by the decrease of starch contents in fruit, and that was caused by the photosynthetic rates of leaves near fruit was decreased by Marssonina blotch in the wake of August.