Effect of summer pruning on shoot growth and fruit quality in peach [Prunus persica]trees trained as slender spindle bush type
2006
Hossain, A.B.M.S.(Ehime Univ., Matsuyama (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | ; Mizutani, F. | ; Onguso, J.M. | ; El-Shereif, A.R. | ; Rutto, K.L.
Summer pruning experiments were carried out to maintain slender spindle bush type in 'Hikawahakuho' peach (Prunus persica Batsch) trees grafted on wild form vigorous rootstocks. In the first experiment in which five-year-old trees were used, summer pruning was performed in mid-July after fruit were harvested, while winter pruning in mid-March as the control. Summer pruning produced regeneration of terminal and lateral shoots. Terminal shoot growth was greater than lateral shoot. Leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD value) was greater but the percentage of flower buds was lower in summer-pruned than winter-pruned trees. In the following season, the total shoot length was greatly reduced in summer pruned trees. Fruit maturation seemed to be accelerated in summer-pruned trees, which resulted in higher soluble solids content (SSC) and lower titratable acidity (TA) in the fruit. Furthermore, in the second experiment, effects of two successive years of summer pruning were determined. The weight of pruned shoots was lower in the two-successive-year-summer-pruned (SP II) trees than single-year-summer-pruned (SP I) trees. This suggests the gradual reduction in the vegetative growth of trees by annual summer pruning. SSC of fruit was slightly higher in SP II than SP I trees. Thus, summer pruning in mid-July after fruit harvest is a useful practice for maintaining slender spindle bush type of peach trees grafted on vigorous rootstocks.
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