The influence of maiden tree quality on growth and cropping of two pear cultivars in the orchard
2006
Sosna, I., Agricultural Univ. of Wroclaw (Poland). Dept. of Horticulture | Szewczuk, A., Agricultural Univ. of Wroclaw (Poland). Dept. of Horticulture
The experiment was conducted at the Fruit Experimental Station near Wroclaw (south-western part of Poland) in 2001-2004. Wroclaw area belongs to the warmest regions in Poland. The influence of maiden trees quality on growth and cropping of 2 pear cvs. was estimated. The experiment was carried out on 'Carola' and 'Dicolor' trees budded on quince S1, rootstock and planted in spring 2001 in a randomised block design in 4 replications with 6 trees per plot. Trees were spaced in rows at 1.2 m whereas the distance between rows equalled 3.5 m (2381 trees per hectare). The maiden trees varied in age from 2-year-old (the oldest) to 1-year-old grafted trees (the youngest). All pear tree canopies were formed as a spindle and were trained in a V-Guettingen system. Until the fourth year after planting, growth and yield were significantly affected by maiden trees quality. One-year-old budded trees were characterised by the strongest vigour in the orchard, while one-year-old grafted trees grew rather weak (especially with 'Carola'). Planting 2-year-old maidens didn't have positive influence on tree cropping in the orchard. Preliminary results of the study proved that 1-year-old budded trees, irrespective of cultivar, gave the highest yield. The smallest grafted trees cropped less and had the lowest crop efficiency index. Maiden trees quality of both cultivars had no clear influence on mean fruit weight.
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