ISHS Acta Horticulturae 160: III International Symposium on Research and Development on Orchard and Plantation Systems
GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF VIGOROUS 'FUJI' APPLE TREES ON M.26 AS AFFECTED BY SUMMER PRUNING |
| Authors: | R. Ogata, H. Kikuchi, T. Hatayama, H. Komatsu |
| Abstract:
After shoots began to grow leaf area increased rapidly until late June. At that time, about 30% of leaves were under low light levels of 0–25% full sun. Light distributions were improved for a relatively short period by each summer pruning. Within one or two weeks after pruning, regrowth from stubs began to develop. Two months before harvest, the whole leaf area of trees pruned 8 weeks after full bloom (AFB), was increased by more than 25% compared with that of trees before pruning, but trees pruned 12 weeks AFB showed a decrease in leaf area compared with trees before pruning. In 1982 and 1983 the average length of regrowth from stubbed shoots was less on the trees pruned 10 weeks AFB than on the trees pruned on the other dates. The number of flower clusters and yield increased favourably in the trees pruned 8 or 10 weeks AFB. Some flowers on the top of secondary shoots occuring after summer pruning bloomed late and produced abnormal-shaped fruits. There was a negative correlation (r= -0.64*) between the number of spurs on a stub in 1983 and yield efficiency in 1982. The soluble solids contents of fruits on the trees pruned 10 or 12 weeks AFB were significantly lower than those of trees pruned in dormancy or at 8 weeks AFB. | |
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