VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSE OF MATURE ‘SUNDROP’ APRICOT TREES TO ROOT PRUNING

Managing vegetative and reproductive growth, and controlling tree size are important aspects of high-density orchard culture.
With this aim, close-planted vigorous mature ‘Sundrop’ apricot trees trained on Tatura Trellis were mechanically root-pruned along both sides of the row 55 cm from the trunk, at a depth of 60 cm whilst dormant during both the 1990–1991 and 1991–1992 seasons.
The effect of root pruning on vegetative and reproductive growth, and the fruiting characteristics and physiology of root-pruned and untreated trees were evaluated.
Compared with untreated controls, root-pruned trees had a more negative predawn and midday leaf water potential.
Shoot extension growth and summer shoot regrowth, as measured by prunings and shoot length was reduced by root pruning.
Root pruned trees tended to produce more early maturing fruit, and in one year mean fruit size tended to be smaller than on untreated trees.

XI International Symposium on Apricot Culture

K. Arzani, D. Wood, S. Lawes

Apricot, Prunus armeniaca L. cv. ‘Sundrop’, dafb (days after full bloom), Ø_leaf (leaf water potential), MPa (mega pascal), Statistical Analysis System (SAS)

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.488.74