APPLE GROWING IN EAST JAVA: THE SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENTS

ISHS Acta Horticulturae 158: X African Symposium on Horticultural Crops

APPLE GROWING IN EAST JAVA: THE SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENTS

Author:

E.W.M. Verheij

Abstract:
Starting around 1960 apple growing in East Java developed from a few straggling trees into an industry of some 2 million trees. Production per year is estimated at approx. 15 000 ton. Unique features are that the apples are grown at lower elevations (700 – 1 200 m) than elsewhere in the tropics and that trees produce 2 crops per year (amounting to 3 ton/ha/year in good orchards), through manipulation of the growth rhythm by defoliation and pruning, in the young trees supplemented by bending.

Intensive husbandry is essential for sustained growth; as this leaves much to be desired the majority of the trees hardly contributes to apple production in the region. Short-term improvements have to come mainly from:

balancing growth and yield through stimulation of growth and harder pruning and fruit thinning;
improved disease control, based less on spraying and more on orchard hygiene;
delaying harvest till fruit matures on the tree.

Long-term improvements:

good fruit set in the riany season through cross-pollination;
propagation and distribution of virus-free trees;
widening the basis of the industry with other cultivars.

The apple example suggests that the field is wide open for similar developments in respect of pear, plum, peach and nectarine.

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