Articles
Ten-year conclusions from the NC-140 sweet cherry canopy architecture-rootstock trials in North America
Article number
1346_83
Pages
661 – 668
Language
English
Abstract
In 2010, the NC-140 Regional Rootstock Research Project coordinated high density sweet cherry orchard system trials at 13 sites across North America.
Four canopy architectures were combined with three precocious rootstocks: Gisela®3 (Gi3, dwarfing), Gisela®5 (Gi5, semi-dwarfing), and Gisela®6 (Gi6, semi-vigorous). The developmental objectives included a) filling of the allotted orchard footprint within three years, b) a maximum tree height to facilitate most pruning and harvest without ladders, and c) simplified, minimal permanent canopy structure with periodic renewal of fruit-bearing structure.
Two canopy architectures were three-dimensional: 1) TSA (Tall Spindle Axe), a conical canopy single leader with 15 to 20+ lateral fruiting branches, and 2) KGB (Kym Green Bush), a bushy multiple leader canopy with 8 to 15 upright fruiting leaders.
Two canopy architectures were two-dimensional or planar: 3) SSA (Super Slender Axe), a single leader with 20 to 30+ short lateral fruiting shoots, planted at twice the density of the other systems, pruned severely, and aligned to form a narrow fruiting wall, and 4) UFO (Upright Fruiting Offshoots), an oblique cordon-like horizontal leader with 8 to 12 upright fruiting leaders in a trellised narrow fruiting wall.
Five sites maintained the trial for the full 10 years: Clarksville, Michigan (Benton); Geneva and Walden, New York (Regina); and Summerland, British Columbia and Kentville, Nova Scotia (Skeena). Tree vigor was influenced more by site and rootstock than by canopy architecture, except SSA, due to the greater root competition.
Yields per tree and cumulative yields per orchard area were influenced most by site-scion combination (highest and lowest cumulative yields in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, respectively), by rootstock (generally, highest and lowest cumulative yields on Gi3 and Gi6, respectively), by year (high annual variability), and by canopy architecture/training system (generally, highest cumulative yields with UFO and TSA training, varying by site).
Four canopy architectures were combined with three precocious rootstocks: Gisela®3 (Gi3, dwarfing), Gisela®5 (Gi5, semi-dwarfing), and Gisela®6 (Gi6, semi-vigorous). The developmental objectives included a) filling of the allotted orchard footprint within three years, b) a maximum tree height to facilitate most pruning and harvest without ladders, and c) simplified, minimal permanent canopy structure with periodic renewal of fruit-bearing structure.
Two canopy architectures were three-dimensional: 1) TSA (Tall Spindle Axe), a conical canopy single leader with 15 to 20+ lateral fruiting branches, and 2) KGB (Kym Green Bush), a bushy multiple leader canopy with 8 to 15 upright fruiting leaders.
Two canopy architectures were two-dimensional or planar: 3) SSA (Super Slender Axe), a single leader with 20 to 30+ short lateral fruiting shoots, planted at twice the density of the other systems, pruned severely, and aligned to form a narrow fruiting wall, and 4) UFO (Upright Fruiting Offshoots), an oblique cordon-like horizontal leader with 8 to 12 upright fruiting leaders in a trellised narrow fruiting wall.
Five sites maintained the trial for the full 10 years: Clarksville, Michigan (Benton); Geneva and Walden, New York (Regina); and Summerland, British Columbia and Kentville, Nova Scotia (Skeena). Tree vigor was influenced more by site and rootstock than by canopy architecture, except SSA, due to the greater root competition.
Yields per tree and cumulative yields per orchard area were influenced most by site-scion combination (highest and lowest cumulative yields in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, respectively), by rootstock (generally, highest and lowest cumulative yields on Gi3 and Gi6, respectively), by year (high annual variability), and by canopy architecture/training system (generally, highest cumulative yields with UFO and TSA training, varying by site).
Publication
Authors
G.A. Lang, S. Blatt, D. Neilsen, T.L. Robinson, H. Xu
Keywords
Prunus avium, orchard systems, precocity, productivity, yield, efficiency
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