EFFECT OF SUMMER PRUNING OF KIWIFRUIT ON YIELD (I)

A comparison among three different pruning intensities and different pruning time has been carried out in three subsequent years on six-year old kiwiplants (cv ‘Hayward’). Total yield and fruit quality have been reduced by ‘heavy’ pruning performed ‘early’ (at fruit set) and ‘late’ (30 days later) and increased by ‘light’ pruning only if applied early at fruit set.
Average fruit weight has been increased indirectly by late pruning and directly only by ‘light’ early pruning.

‘Heavy’ and ‘intermediate’ pruning negatively affected final fruit sugar content and reduced fruit acidity.
As general effect, ‘late’ pruning did not result in stimulation of water sprouts; ‘heavy’ pruning inhibited the basal renewal of canes and slowed down wood maturation.

I International Symposium on Kiwifruit

A. Galliano, P. Tonutti, C. Giulivo, J. Youssef

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1990.282.15