ISHS Acta Horticulturae 707: VII International Symposium on Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard Management
EFFECTS OF SUMMER PRUNING ON GROWTH INDICES OF TWO IMPORTANT IRANIAN APPLE CULTIVARS ‘GOLAB’ AND ‘SHAFI-ABADI’ |
| Authors: | Z. Zamani, A. Saie, A.-R. Talaie, R. Fatahi |
| Keywords: | Malus × domestica, orchard management, tree size, dwarfing rootstock, ripening time, trunk size, shoot length |
| Abstract:
The size of trees and its effects on different operations, expenses and decisions is one of the most important considerations for orchard management. Attempts to control tree size by different methods such as dwarfing rootstocks; spur type scions, pruning, and growth retardants have been in the focus of fruit research and industry in the last century. However, dwarfing rootstocks do not provide the expected performance for some fruit trees species and cultivars and under specific growing conditions. This study evaluates the effects of summer pruning for controlling the growth and performance of two of the important vigorous early and mid-early ripening apple cultivars of Iran, ‘Golab’ and ‘Shafi-Abadi’, grafted on dwarfing M9 rootstock. Summer pruning was performed on dormant-pruned trees, by cutting the annual growing shoots after the fifth leaves at 30, 60, and 90 days after full bloom. The increase in trunk cross sectional area (CSA), vegetative growth characteristics, and some of the fruit characters were recorded. The results were compared to those of control trees that received only dormant pruning or no dormant pruning. Control trees were also used to evaluate the relationships between vegetative characters. Trunk CSA was positively correlated with annual shoots number (R2=63%), total length of annual shoots (R2=64%), tree volume (R2=62%) and dormant pruning weight (R2=60%). Summer pruning treatments effectively reduced the measured vegetative characters. The most effective treatment for reduction of trunk CSA growth and annual shoots length was summer pruning at 90 days after full bloom (45% and 38% of the dormant-pruned trees respectively). This is giving a good promise for better management of these vigorous but preferred apple cultivars. | |
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