Effect of pruning systems on vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality of key lime (Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle) under growing conditions in the Piura region

Abstract

Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle) is an important fruit crop in northern Peru; however, inadequate canopy management can limit productivity and fruit quality. This study evaluated the effects of different pruning systems on vegetative growth, flowering, yield, and fruit quality of key lime under the growing conditions of the Piura region. The experiment was conducted during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons in two commercial orchards using a randomized complete block design with four pruning systems, namely maintenance pruning (MP), thinning pruning (TP), maintenance pruning combined with thinning pruning (MP + TP), and no pruning (NP), with four replicates per system. Vegetative growth, flowering, yield, and fruit quality variables were evaluated. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) test (p < 0.05), principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis, and correlation analysis. Pruning significantly affected vegetative growth, flowering, yield, and fruit physical attributes, whereas juice soluble solids, vitamin C content, and titratable acidity were not significantly affected. MP, TP, and MP + TP were associated with higher yields than NP, while MP also showed greater values for several fruit physical attributes. Some responses varied with growing season and/or study site. Overall, pruning modified vegetative and productive responses in key lime, and MP combined relatively high yield with greater values for several fruit physical attributes under the edaphoclimatic conditions of the studied orchards in Piura.