Bioscience Evidence 2026, Vol.16, No.4, 221-234 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 225 organic acids, and dry matter accumulation. The composition of sugars and acids is one of the main factors determining fruit flavor. Under different training systems, improved light distribution not only enhances fruit coloration but also increases soluble solids and the sugar-to-acid ratio, indicating that better light conditions promote sugar accumulation by increasing leaf photosynthesis and strengthening local sink activity. 3.3 Water and nutrient regulation of fruit development Water and nutrient management continuously influence peach fruit development and final quality by regulating cell expansion, ripening rate, sugar and acid metabolism, and mineral accumulation. Moderate deficit irrigation often improves fruit quality while saving water. In an early-ripening peach cultivar grown in Tunisia, sustained deficit irrigation at 50% ETc and partial root-zone drying both increased fruit dry matter and firmness. Fruits under sustained deficit irrigation reached 14.3 °Brix soluble solids and contained higher levels of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and mineral nutrients (Zhao et al., 2023). However, the response to water management depends on irrigation intensity and environmental conditions. High temperature accelerates fruit growth during stages S1 and S2 and advances fruit maturity by 12~18 days, but it also reduces fruit size, weight, and sweetness, indicating that faster development does not necessarily result in better fruit quality (Sikhandakasmita et al., 2022). Soil mineral nutrients do not affect all quality traits equally. In a survey of 75 peach orchards in Jiangsu Province, available B, Ca, N, and K had the strongest effects on fruit weight. Available Fe, K, B, and Ca were the main factors affecting soluble solids, while available Ca, N, B, and K had the greatest influence on titratable acidity. These results indicate that fertilizer management should be adjusted according to the target quality traits (Sun et al., 2022). Ground cover management also affects fruit development by regulating soil nitrogen cycling. Grass cover improves nitrogen-related soil properties, increases fruit sugar content and the sugar-to-acid ratio, and reduces fruit acidity. Soil nitrogen was identified as the most important factor affecting peach fruit quality. Fruit weight and the sugar-to-acid ratio were positively correlated with total dissolved nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen, whereas total acidity was negatively correlated with available nitrogen and available potassium. These findings suggest that nutrient management influences not only fruit growth but also flavor development. Preharvest foliar application of potassium silicate (K-Si) increased fruit weight, peel color, soluble solids, titratable acidity, and several antioxidant compounds. It also increased anthocyanin and total phenolic contents after cold storage, indicating that functional nutrient supplementation can improve both harvest quality and postharvest performance (Abidi et al., 2023). 4 Applications of Fruit Quality Management in Commercial Peach Orchards 4.1 Quality-oriented orchard system Quality management should begin at the orchard establishment stage. Orchard design should focus on small tree size, uniform light distribution within the canopy, maintenance of soil fertility, and compatibility with mechanized operations, because most fruit quality traits are determined before harvest. High-density or medium-density planting is not the goal by itself. Instead, growers should choose between two-dimensional fruiting walls and compact three-dimensional open-center systems according to local climate, labor availability, and frost risk. An ideal orchard system usually aims for 60%~70% light interception, a canopy thickness of 70~90 cm, and relatively low canopy density to achieve both high yield potential and uniform fruit quality (Anthony and Minas, 2021). Two-dimensional planar training systems improve access for both workers and machinery, reduce the cost of pruning, thinning, and harvesting, and often produce larger fruits with higher soluble solids content. In Spain, the adoption of planar systems increased harvesting efficiency by 28%, reduced seasonal labor requirements from 651 h/ha to 398 h/ha, and lowered production costs by approximately 15% (Iglesias and Echeverría, 2022). 4.2 Key practices for improving fruit quality Canopy management is one of the most effective ways to improve both orchard efficiency and fruit quality. Spring and summer pruning can increase work efficiency while enhancing fruit quality. Crop load management should
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