scholarly journals Cropping Efficiency of Young `Fuji' Apple Trees

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 886A-886
Author(s):  
Preston K. Andrews ◽  
Margaret L. Collier

Effects of crop load and time of thinning on productivity of young `Fuji'/M.9 apple trees were tested by hand blossom (B) or fruit (F) thinning to two crop densities (fruit number/trunk cross-sectional area). Heavy (H) crop densities resulted in higher yields in both 2nd and 3rd leaf than light (L) crop densities. Time of thinning had no effect on yields in either year. In the 2nd leaf, fruit size was largest from trees B thinned to L crop densities, and smallest from trees F thinned to either crop density from mid-June through harvest. Both 1° and 2° vegetative growth were greatest in noncropped trees, intermediate in trees with L crops, and least in trees with H crops. Noncropped 2nd-1eaf trees had the highest flowering indices (flower clusters/100 total buds) the following spring and H cropped trees had the lowest. The flowering index was higher when trees were B thinned in the 2nd leaf than when F thinned. In the 3rd leaf, fruit size was largest when borne on weak upright shoots, intermediate on spurs, and smallest on 1-year-old terminal wood. Fruit on spurs had the highest incidence of sunscald (17%) and fruit on weak upright shoots the lowest (8%). Previous-season crop densities affected current-season's vegetative and fruit growth.

1969 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 655-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Ross ◽  
A. D. Crowe ◽  
R. P. Longley

A five-year study was conducted on the effect of captan, dodine and dichlone on the performance of mature McIntosh apple trees. There were no significant differences in yield, trunk cross-sectional area, amount of bloom, fruit size and fruit color. Dodine injured 0.5% of the fruit in one year of the test and pre-cover sprays of dichlone caused some fruit russeting. The results indicate that any harmful effect of dichlone on yield occurs from pre-cover applications, or pre-cover followed by cover sprays.


2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 830-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Kon ◽  
James R. Schupp

Trials were conducted in 2009 and 2010 to evaluate the use of a hand-thinning gauge [Equilifruit; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Montpelier, France] on three cultivars of apple (Malus ×domestica) trees trained to tall spindle. Hand-thinning treatments were applied after June drop to trees with supra-optimal crop loads. Three hand-thinning treatments were applied using the hand-thinning gauge: 1) thinning to ≈6 fruit/cm2 branch cross-sectional area (BCSA) (F value), 2) subtracting the delta value [Δ (an adjustment factor to increase or decrease the number of fruit per BCSA] from the F value (F − Δ), and 3) F − 2Δ. These treatments were compared with a control and a traditional hand-thinning heuristic of spacing a solitary fruit every 7 to 8 inches of branch length. Use of the hand-thinning gauge generally improved fruit weight and maintained whole tree yields when compared with the control. Hand-thinning based upon traditional fruit-spacing heuristics reduced crop density and increased final fruit weight of apple, but significant reductions in yield were observed in two of four studies when compared with the control. We find the hand-thinning gauge a useful tool in adjusting final crop load of apple.


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 792F-793
Author(s):  
James R. Schupp

To evaluate the interactions between cultivar and rootstock, four apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars, `Pioneer Mac', `Marshall McIntosh', `Ginger Gold', and `Empire' on two rootstocks, M.26 and Mark, were planted in a split-plot design. After 5 years, `Pioneer Mac' and `Ginger Gold' had larger trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) on M.26 than on Mark. `Marshall McIntosh' and `Empire' had larger TCSA on Mark than on M.26. Precocity, expressed as both number of flower clusters and yield, was greater for trees on Mark for all cultivars except `Ginger Gold', which had greater flower cluster numbers and yield on M.26. Fruit size was variable from year to year, depending on crop load; however, `Pioneer Mac' and `Ginger Gold' usually produced the largest fruit, while `Empire' consistently produced the smallest fruit—'Ginger Gold' appears to be incompatible on Mark. The results of this study demonstrate that cultivar × rootstock interactions can be significant and need to be considered when rootstock and planting density recommendations are made.


1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 1383-1391 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. WEBSTER ◽  
G. L. BROWN

Increase in mean trunk circumference (ΔC, cm) of 8- to 17-yr-old McIntosh/M.7 apple trees was a linear function of mean crop load (K, kg/cm2). A linear relationship between ΔC and K implies that, for a given initial tree size, increase in trunk cross-sectional area will be nearly linear with yield.


1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (108) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
KR Chapman ◽  
B Paxton ◽  
J Saranah ◽  
PD Scudamore-Smith

Five guava seedlines of Hawaiian origin, namely GA9-37, GA12-1 6, GA10-48, GA11-56 and GA9-39 were yield tested in coastal sub-tropical south-eastern Queensland. The work demonstrated that seedling guavas produce attractive yields comparable with overseas countries. First crop mean yields were 30.72 kg/tree after 18 months in the field, demonstrating the precocious bearing of the guava. Yields for second and third cropping years were 45.6 and 77.9 kg/tree. These yields equate to 24.7, 37.2 and 61.5 tonnes ha-1 at a planting density of 805 trees ha-1. Third crop yields give the attractive gross returns of around $15,000 ha-1, at current prices paid by processors in Queensland. No differences were found between seedlines in annual yields, accumulated crop yields, fruit Number/tree, annual yield per unit cross sectional area of butt (an index of fruitfulness) and accumulated yield per unit cross sectional area of butt. Within seedline, variability masked differential response and these aspects are discussed. Fruit yields and relative increase in butt cross sectional area of butt varied with cropping year. Fruit. number per tree and yield per unit cross sectional area of butt varied with years, as did fruit number per kg (an index of fruit size). The latter also varied with seedlines. These effects were attributed to water rationing in spring of the second crop year. Preliminary selection based on fruit quality aspects of individuals identified four individuals which are undergoing detailed processing assessment, namely GA9-39R1T2, GA11-56T7, GA11-56R5T2 and GA1 1-56R5T1. Two further individuals were selected for fresh fruit market testing, namely GA11-56T3 and GA11 -56R1T1. We believe that market development rather than horticultural problems to be overcome will dictate the success of the guava as a crop for Australia, since the guava is comparatively easy to grow and manage.


HortScience ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1361-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane W. Greene

Prohexadione-calcium (ProCa) has emerged as one of the most important management tools that an orchardist has available to control vegetative growth and to reduce the incidence and severity of fire blight. It has also been implicated in increased fruit set on treated apple trees. This investigation was initiated to confirm the effects of ProCa on fruit set and to evaluate different thinning strategies that might be used to appropriately thin treated trees. ProCa increased fruit set when applied at petal fall at initial rates of 125 or 250 mg·L−1 in three of the four experiments described in this article. Thinners were applied before, at the time of, and after application of ProCa. In all experiments, chemical thinners did not reduce fruit set to the same crop load level on ProCa-treated trees as they did on untreated trees. It was concluded that a different and more aggressive chemical thinning strategy must be used on trees that were treated with ProCa. Fruit size was reduced on ProCa-treated trees. This reduction was usually, but not always, related to increased fruit set. ProCa increased the number of pygmy fruit on ‘Delicious’ apple trees.


HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1169c-1169
Author(s):  
Curt R. Rom ◽  
Renae E. Moran

Trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) has been used to estimate leaf area (LA) and yield efficiency but variation in LA and TCA relationships have been unexplored. LA and TCA of 10-yr-old 'Starkspur Supreme Delicious' on 9 rootstocks (STKs) were measured in 1989. LA and TCA of 2-yr-old trees of 3 cultivars (CVs) on 5 STKs were measured in 1991. Regression of LA and TCA was performed for each CV, STK and each CV/STK. On mature trees, LA varied significantly with STK. The number and LA of shoot leaves (LVS) and spur LVS varied with STK but the % of total was not significantly different (approx. 52% spur LVS). The relationships of LA and TCA were linear for mature (r2=.94) and young (r2=.44) trees. On young trees, TCA varied with CV, but LA did not. Both LA and TCA were significantly different among STKs. The linear relationships of LA and TCA had unique intercepts with each CV, STK and CV/STK combination but slopes were not significantly different. Leaf area of Jonagold' and 'Gala' tended to increase more with increasing TCA than 'Empire'.


HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 473B-473
Author(s):  
A.S. Devyatov

An orchard trial was established by planting an orchard with between-row intervals of 4 m. The French Axe was trained for trees with intervals in the row of 1 and 1.5 m. The hedgerow was used for treatments of 2–2.5 and 3 m between trees in the row. Semi-dwarf rootstock of Bud54-118 and dwarf one Bud62-396 were used. The growth of of these rootstocks was analogous to MM106 and M26, respectively. The trunk cross-sectional area of 7-year trees on 54-118 rootstock was 2.3 times more than on 62-396 for cv. Antey and 1.5 times more for cv. Tellisaare. The height of tree with French Axe crown at 7 years after planting on 54-118 rootstock reached 3.5–4 m. The height of tree was 0.5 m smaller on 62-396. The crown habit of tree on 62-396 rootstock was more comfortable for high -density orchard than trees on 54-118. The sum length of twigs that were cut out during 1993–96 to attain of normal density of crown was 2-4 times more than on 62-396 rootstock. Commercial fruiting of cv. Antey started at the 3rd leaf, but it was on 4th leaf for the more-dwarf rootstock 62-396. Average yield of fruit at 3–6 years after planting of cv. Antey for treatment of distance between trees in the row of 2 or 1.5 m was 6.8 kg/tree per year-1 for 54-118 rootstock, 3.4 and 3.5, respectively, for 62-396 rootstock. Yield at the 7th year after planting reached 24 and 32 kg on 54-118 rootstock, 16 and 15 kg on 62-396, respectively. Analogous date obtained for cv. Tellisa are. cv. Spartan on both rootstocks started to fruiting at 5-6 years after planting. The fruit quality was very high in all treatments of the trial.


HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.C. Ferree ◽  
M. Knee

`Smoothee Golden Delicious' apple trees on nine rootstocks or interstems were mechanically root pruned annually for 9 years beginning the year after planting. Root pruning reduced trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) by 14% over the first 5 years and 22% in the last 4 years of the trial. Yield and fruit size were reduced by root pruning in most years with the fruit size effect obvious in June at the end of cell division. Interstem trees of MAC.9/MM.106 were larger than trees on M.9 and the following interstems: M.9/MM.106, M.9/MM.111, M.27/MM.111. Trees on seedling (SDL) rootstock were the largest and had the lowest yield per unit TCA and lower cumulative yield/tree than trees on M.7, MM.106, and MM.1ll. There was no interaction for any measure of growth or yield between root pruning and rootstock or interstem.


HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 1364-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Zimmerman

Growth, flowering, and fruiting of micropropagated `Jonathan' apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) transferred in Spring 1983 to the field from either a nursery, cold storage, or greenhouse were compared. First-year shoot and trunk growth was greatest for trees transplanted from the nursery and least for trees that were held in the greenhouse before being transferred to the field. Trees pruned low (35 cm) at planting time had more terminal shoot growth and less trunk cross-sectional area after the first growing season than those pruned high (90 cm). The effect of preplanting cultural practices on vegetative growth diminished in the 2nd year and disappeared by the end of the 3rd year in the orchard. Flowering began in 1985 and was only slightly affected by preplanting cultural practices and pruning treatments. Fruiting was not affected by the treatments.


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