Abstract: Effects of net and cheesecloth cover on the growth, yield and fruit quality of peach (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch) trees were investigated in summer pruned trees after fruit harvest. Trees were covered with white cheesecloths (giving 30% shade) or nets. The length of regenerated shoots from the branches covered with cheesecloths and nets was one third and half as great as the control, respectively. Covering with cheesecloth reduced flower bud formation. It also led to increased Bix but decreased acidity to a slightly greater degree than nets. Both cheesecloth and net treatments increased ethylene production and ACC content in the shoot tips. Earlier flowering was noted in the following spring in the trees that had been covered with cheesecloths. Such early flower opening, which corresponded to early bud break, seems to be associated with ethylene biosynthesis caused by thigmomorphogenesis.