ISHS Acta Horticulturae 451: VI International Symposium on Integrated Canopy, Rootstock, Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems
CONTROLLING THE SHOOT GROWTH AND CROPPING OF SWEET CHERRY TREES USING ROOT PRUNING OR ROOT RESTRICTION TECHNIQUES |
| Authors: | A. D. Webster, C. J. Atkinson, Simon J. Vaughan, Ann S. Lucas |
| Keywords: | irrigation, Prunus avium L. |
| Abstract:
Planting 'Sunburst' sweet cherry trees grafted on 'Colt' rootstock with their roots restricted by a membrane reduced shoot growth by 80% to 94%, compared with unrestricted controls. Floral bud density (numbers of floral buds formed per meter shoot length) and fruit set efficiency (final set/100 floral buds) were increased. No significant reductions in fruit size were recorded for trickle-irrigated root-restricted trees. Root pruning young 'Sunburst'/'Colt' trees, either at full bloom or in the early autumn, reduced shoot growth less severely (by up to 65%) than did root restriction. Root pruning treatments had no consistent effects on floral bud production, fruit set or fruit size. | |
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