ISHS Acta Horticulturae 146: International Workshop on Controlling Vigor in Fruit Trees
EFFECT OF VARIOUS TRAINING SYSTEMS ON CANOPY DEVELOPMENT IN FOUR APPLE CULTIVARS |
| Author: | S.S. Miller |
| Abstract:
'Delicious', 'Golden Delicious', 'Stayman 201', and 'Red York' apple trees planted in 1979 on M7a rootstock were trained and pruned to the following systems: 1) central leader, 2) modified central leader, 3) modified leader, 4) open center, 5) double-T, and 6) natural free form (no training). After 4 years, significant interactions occurred between training systems and cultivars with respect to growth response. Lateral and spur development was generally reduced by training. Judicious pruning resulted in higher yields/tree. Limb spreaders used in training did not improve light penetration in the center and lowest scaffold layer of the canopy. Crop load contributed to canopy spread and improved light penetration. 'Stayman' may be the most easily adapted cultivar to over-the-row mechanical harvesting. | |
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