New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Pomological and physiological characteristics of Slender Pyramid central leader
apple (Malus domestica) planting systems grown on intermediate vigour,
semi-dwarfing, and dwarfing rootstocks
D. S. TUSTIN
W. M. CASHMORE
R. B. BENSLEY
The Horticulture and Food Research
Institute of New Zealand Ltd
Hawke's Bay Research Centre
Private Bag 1401
Havelock North, New Zealand
email: stustin@hortresearch.co.nz
Abstract Three apple (
Malus domestica Borkh.) planting
systems utilising medium vigour (MM.106, 5.0 x 3.0 m), semi-dwarf
(M.26, 4.0 x 2.0 m), or dwarf (Mark, 4.0 x 2.0 m)
rootstocks were compared using pomological and physiological attributes
affecting productivity and fruit quality of the cultivar `Fuji'. All planting
systems were grown using Slender Pyramid tree management. Individual tree size
increased with rootstock vigour, but canopy development per unit land area was
similar for planting systems on MM.106 and M.26. Light interception was up to
50% less in the Mark dwarf tree system which corresponded to small tree size
and limited canopy growth once cropping began. Leaf area index of the dwarf
tree system on Mark was 1.9, half that of systems on MM.106 and M.26, whereas
leaf area density of 3.7, was more than 50% higher than for the other systems.
Irradiance reaching the lower inner canopy region of trees was most affected by
canopy aspect with highest irradiance in the eastern sector and lowest in the
southern sector for all planting systems. Floral precocity of trees on all
rootstocks was not limiting to production but was proportionally higher on
trees grown on Mark rootstock. Yield in the first cropping year (third season)
was greatest for planting systems with highest tree density although the Mark
dwarf tree system had the highest initial production. Continued canopy growth
in the systems on MM.106 and M.26 resulted in higher yields than from the Mark
planting system from the fourth year onwards. Peak yields within 6 or 7 years
reached 110 t/ha. Highest cumulative yields occurred with the M.26 semi-dwarf
planting system. The proportion of fruit achieving export quality standard was
lowest from the intermediate vigour MM.106 planting system. Inadequate fruit
red colour was the most common quality defect. Performance of these alternative
planting systems is discussed in relation to the physiological requirements for
optimising the efficiency of apple planting systems.
Keywords apple; planting systems; light; leaf
distribution; productivity
H00046
Received 2 November 2000; accepted 30 April 2001
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2001, Vol. 29:
195-208
0014-0671/01/2903-0195 $7.00 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
2001
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1099K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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