ISHS Acta Horticulturae 557: VII International Symposium on Orchard and Plantation Systems
FACTORS AFFECTING TREE CROP EFFICIENCY IN YOUNG PEACH TREES: ROOTSTOCK VIGOUR AND TRAINING SYSTEM |
| Authors: | T. Caruso, E. Barone, C. Di Vaio |
| Keywords: | Prunus persica, dry-matter partitioning, free-spindle, GF 677, Maycrest, mineral content, Missour, starch, Y-shape |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.557.26 |
| Abstract:
We report the effect of 2 rootstocks (GF 677 and Missour) and 2 training systems (Y-shape and Free-spindle) on dry matter accumulation and partitioning, starch concentration and crop efficiency of young peach trees (cv Maycrest) grown in large pots. Both training system and rootstock significantly influenced tree growth and productivity in the early ripening Maycrest peach cultivar in the first two growing seasons. Y-shaped trees had ≈25% greater trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) than Free-spindle trees (FS), but only about half the number of fruit per tree. Trees on GF677 had ≈20% greater TCA and ≈13% lower number of fruit than trees on Missour. Crop efficiency was affected by training system but not by rootstock. FS trees had a three times greater crop efficiency than Y-shaped trees. Training system affected also fruit dry matter accumulation with FS trees having a fruit dry mass that was more than twice that of Y. Dry matter removed with summer pruning of FS trees was less than half that of Y trees. No particular differences were found in the mineral contents among the 4 rootstock-training system combinations. Rootstock had a significant effect on starch concentration in the root system. Maycrest trained to systems as Y that require severe pruning, proved to delay the onset and amount of early fruit production, regardless of the vigour of the rootstock adopted. | |
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