ISHS Acta Horticulturae 367: VI International Symposium on Pear Growing
CANOPY ARCHITECTURE, TRAINING AND PRUNING IN THE MODERN EUROPEAN PEAR ORCHARDS: AN OVERVIEW |
| Authors: | S. Sansavini, S. Musacchi |
| Abstract:
Orchard architecture depends mainly on planting density. A density of 400–600 trees per ha demands a wide and tall canopy, whereas that of 1–2,000 trees is well suited to quince rootstock and of 3–4,000 trees to dwarf quince clones that induce early cropping and reduce vigor in such cultivars as 'Doyenne du Comice' and 'Blanquilla'. Cycocel is used as a growth retardant in some countries, while gibberellins are employed in 'Conference' and 'Bartlett' to induce parthenocarpic cropping. An established pear orchard lends itself to mechanical pruning better than other fruit species. There are five models of fruiting wood on pear varieties: (i) brindilla or one-year flowering shoots ('Bartlett'); (ii) spurs on two- and three-year branches as in 'Doyenne du Comice' and 'Abbé Fétel'; (iii) spurs on all wood types as in Conference; (iv) spurs on old branches as 'Kaiser-Buerre Bosc' and (v) the vegetative sink-controlled spurs as in 'Passe Crassane'. Long pruning is suited only to the first model; the second requires yearly short pruning and cutting back only of the fruiting branches, the third moderate annual pruning to thin shoots and to cut back and renew branches, the fourth a light-moderate cut to stimulate branch renewal and the fifth severe pruning to enhance fruit set. | |
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