Transformation of bush training system into vertical cordons, a pathway to boost the mature currant orchards

Bush still remains the currants traditional training system in many East-European countries despite of the well-known advantages of vertical training systems for new high density plantations.
Since farmers with small to medium berry orchards are more aware of new technologies and training systems, they are open to implement the novelties in their establishments, willing to enhance the yield and quality of the fruit production.
In this regard, we focused to find practical solutions to convert the mature bush canopy of productive currants plantation into vertical cordons training system indicating step by step the procedure to transform the plants architecture.
The severe pruning in the first instance applied to the plants increase the cordons vigour, especially in height.
A better productivity per cordon was found in the plants conducted with four and five cordons but the bigger size of the fruits harvested comes from the plants conducted with two cordons.
The overall quality was improved and the new system was perceived by practitioners as better in functionality and viable in the small scale production.

XII I8nternational Rubus and Ribes Symposium: Innovative Rubus and Ribes Production for High Quality Berries in Changing Environments

A. Asănică, F. Stănică, A. Iacob, M. Ungurenuș

Ribes rubrum ‘Elite’, Ribes nigrum ‘Tinker’, conversion, pruning, trellising

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1277.37