ISHS Acta Horticulturae 254: II International Peach Symposium
PERFORMANCE IN HIGH DENSITY VERSUS STANDARD ORCHARD SPACING OF SEVEN LOW-CHILL PEACH CLONES |
| Authors: | L.G. McDermott, W.B. Sherman |
| Abstract:
The effects of tree spacing and pruning treatments on 7 low-chill peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] clones, selected for short fruit development periods, were evaluated. Trees were planted at high density (3333 trees/ha) and standard (350 trees/ha) orchard spacings and were evaluated in their 3rd and 4th leaf. The high density trees were annually topped to 0.75m in early June after harvest, and the standard orchard spaced trees were winter pruned to an open vase. Production of trees in the high density system began one year prior to trees in the standard system. Fruit yield per hectare of trees in the high density system was significantly larger than for those in the standard system. Parameters of trunk diameter, flower bud production and fruit set did not exhibit consistent differences between orchard systems for both years. The high density system resulted in a delay of bloom and harvest of some clones. Fruit quality varied significantly among clones but was generally higher for fruit from standard spaced trees. Fruit from standard spaced trees was significantly larger than fruit from high density trees. The high density system shows promise for use with 'Flordagold', the only cultivar that yielded fruit of marketable size when planted in this system. | |
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