New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Tree quality and canopy management effects on the growth
and floral precocity of young `Doyenne du Comice' pear trees
G. S. LAWES
Department of Plant Science
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
C. B. SPENCE
Agriculture New Zealand
P. O. Box 768
Wanganui, New Zealand
D. S. TUSTIN
The Horticulture and Food Research
Institute of New Zealand
Private Bag 1401
Havelock North, New Zealand
S. M. MAX
Fruit Crops Unit
Massey University
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract `Doyenne du Comice' pear (Pyrus communis L.)
trees were selected from commercial nurseries 1 and 2 years after budding, and
graded for size and number of side branches. At planting in an orchard trees of
each of three grades received three pruning management treatments. For 2 years
trees were assessed for shoot vigour and complexity, spur development, floral
precocity, and tree form. Tree growth and precocity were influenced by both
initial tree quality and early tree management. Planting out a 2-year large
branched (Grade 1) nursery tree resulted in the largest and most precocious
tree. One-year unbranched (Grade 3) maiden rods remained the smallest and least
fruitful trees after 2 years. Tree management by bending the leader
horizontally in the first season increased the number of moderately weak side
shoots and floral precocity. Orchard performance of `Doyenne du Comice' may be
enhanced by planting large branched trees or applying a non-invigorating leader
bending management that encourages early cropping of young trees.
Keywords Comice; European pear; tree grade; leader bending;
precocity
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1997, Vol. 25:
177-184
0114-0671/97/2502-0177 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1997
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (603K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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