Jinhua Cheng , Wei Wang

Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Biological Evidence, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 2   
Received: 26 Feb., 2026    Accepted: 10 Apr., 2026    Published: 22 Apr., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study focuses on loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) and systematically analyzes how different pruning systems affect yield and fruit quality. By examining the growth habits of loquat, its flowering and fruiting characteristics, and the relationship between canopy structure and yield, the effects of various pruning methods—including light, moderate, heavy, and seasonal pruning—were compared under practical production conditions. Pruning regulates canopy structure, improves ventilation and light penetration, and optimizes the source–sink relationship, thereby significantly influencing flower bud differentiation, fruit set, and fruit development. Moderate pruning can maintain relatively high yield while improving fruit size, soluble solids content, and appearance quality. In contrast, overly light pruning tends to produce smaller fruits, whereas excessive pruning reduces yield. Intensive pruning methods such as double heading help promote the formation of high-quality fruiting branches, improving individual fruit weight and the proportion of premium fruits. Pruning should be coordinated with practices such as flower and fruit thinning, fertilization, irrigation, and planting density management to achieve a balance between yield and quality. A well-designed pruning system is a key technical approach for improving orchard productivity and economic returns, and it plays an important role in the refined management of modern orchards.

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.); Pruning methods; Yield regulation; Fruit quality; Comparative analysis