Articles
A “JOINT TREE” TRAINING SYSTEM ENABLES EARLY RETURNS ON JAPANESE PEAR ORCHARDS
Article number
800_105
Pages
769 – 776
Language
English
Abstract
In March 1997, we developed a new training system, called the “Joint tree” training system.
This training system is based on artificial grafting together many trees, so creating one linearly congregated tree.
Two-year-old Japanese pear trees were planted in distance of 2 m apart and trained via bending along a north and south line on a flat trellis system.
The apical tips of each tree were grafted into the bent part of main stem of the adjacent tree.
In this system, harvests began one year earlier than on trees trained to a traditional training system of four scaffold branches.
It produced 15 t/ha in the first harvest year, followed by more than 20 t/ha thereafter.
Thus, in the early years, trees of this system could yield the equivalent of mature traditional systems because the framework of the trees was completed much earlier by grafting together the scaffold branches.
As for fruit characters, variance of fruiting density was smaller than observed with the traditional system.
Trees of joint tree bore fruits uniformly.
For TSS, there was no significant difference along the scaffold branches in the “joint tree” training system two years after grafting.
Flesh firmness showed no significant difference in ten-year-old joined trees.
Fruits quality variance is smaller in the “joint tree” training system.
Conclusively, it was proved that the “joint tree” system enables high yields to be achieved in the early years, as well as uniform fruiting distribution and fruit quality.
It also suggests efficient and labor saving management on flat type trellises.
This training system is based on artificial grafting together many trees, so creating one linearly congregated tree.
Two-year-old Japanese pear trees were planted in distance of 2 m apart and trained via bending along a north and south line on a flat trellis system.
The apical tips of each tree were grafted into the bent part of main stem of the adjacent tree.
In this system, harvests began one year earlier than on trees trained to a traditional training system of four scaffold branches.
It produced 15 t/ha in the first harvest year, followed by more than 20 t/ha thereafter.
Thus, in the early years, trees of this system could yield the equivalent of mature traditional systems because the framework of the trees was completed much earlier by grafting together the scaffold branches.
As for fruit characters, variance of fruiting density was smaller than observed with the traditional system.
Trees of joint tree bore fruits uniformly.
For TSS, there was no significant difference along the scaffold branches in the “joint tree” training system two years after grafting.
Flesh firmness showed no significant difference in ten-year-old joined trees.
Fruits quality variance is smaller in the “joint tree” training system.
Conclusively, it was proved that the “joint tree” system enables high yields to be achieved in the early years, as well as uniform fruiting distribution and fruit quality.
It also suggests efficient and labor saving management on flat type trellises.
Publication
Authors
K. Shibata, K. Koizumi, T. Seki, I. Kitao, K. Matsushita
Keywords
Pyrus pyrifolia, labor-saving, scaffold branch, training system, tree vigor control
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