Recent Trends in Training Methods of Deciduous Fruit Trees بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Recent Trends in Training Methods of Deciduous Fruit Trees Presented By Belal taromi aliabadi Aliakbar mohammadian

Introduction Many special ways of training trees have been proposed over the past century and before (DeJong et al., 1999). Some systems are specific to dwarf trees, some are designed for better light distribution, some for ease of harvest, some for better support for crop, some for protection from wind, some for better fruit quality, and still others for better spray coverage to control pests. For the grower, choice of a system should be based on general cropping efficiency balanced with the cost of establishing and maintaining it. The success of a system in one area does not ensure its success in a different climate or economic situation (Westwood, 1995).

New Training Methods of Deciduous Fruit Trees 1. Cordon Form Single stem (height of 3-4 m). Short fruiting spurs (3 kg/tree = 45 tons / acre). Dwarfing rootstocks. Close spacing (0.3x1.0 m) = 33.333 trees / ha. Trellis support. High yield with lower costs. Orientation may be vertical, oblique or horizontal.

Vertical Cordon Horizontal Cordon Oblique Cordon

(columnar canopy shape) 2. Pillar System (columnar canopy shape) It is a modified vertical cordon without support. Pruning to renew fruiting wood every 3 years. Trees 2-3 m high have about 35 production units. Trees spacing Trees are planted at about 2x4 m = (1250 trees/ha). Good spray coverage and light distribution.

3. Dwarf Pyramid This system is a modification of the cordon, in which low-headed, compact, central leader trees are trained with lower branches longer than upper ones. Narrow pyramid. Trees spacing Trees are planted at about 1x3 m = (3333 trees/ha), with the potential yield in the second year.

4. Spindle Bush It is between the bush form and vertical cordon. Unlike the cordon, in which fruits are borne on short branches. Height can be from 2-4 m (1000-2000 trees/ha).

Other Types of Spindle Bush a) Modified spindle bush like espalier for dwarf apples and pear. b) Modified brunner-spindle system: 3-4 m spacing between trees and 5-6 m between rows (sweet cherries). Suitable for hand picking or mechanical harvesting. Suitable for vigorous, semi-vigorous or semi-dwarf rootstocks. c) Slender spindle system Vigorous growth of cv. and Rt, and the growth character of sweet cherries. Produce dwarf trees for intensive orchards. 4 m spacing between rows and 1.5-2.5 m between trees (1000-1650 trees/ha).

5. Vertical Axis Like the vertical cordon and spindle bush. The branches become bent down from cropping, they are systematically renewed so as not become scaffolds. Pruning costs are less and cropping begins early. Requires support, usually 2-3 wire trellis.

6. Meadow Orchard High-yielding varieties of apple are grafted to a dwarf root. Trees are planted 30x45 cm apart (74000 trees/ha). Trees are sprayed with a growth regulator to induce flower initiation. Trees are sprayed with retardant again in the second season to keep growth at about 1 m height. Tree produces only 1 kg (74 M/tha). Mechanical harvest in which the combine harvester cuts off the trees just above the graft union. High cost/acre for trees alternate year cropping. In Israel, the Meadow system has been adapted to annual cropping of early peaches and nectarines.

Modification of the meadow orchard

7. Palmettes Similar in that all are fan-shaped. Oriented in a single plane These forms can be adapted to different soils, climatic conditions and tree vigor. Good exposure to sunlight. Horizontal Oblique A combination arms arms of the two

Fan [cherry and fig] Candelabra

8. Tatura Trellis Trees rows run north-south and each tree has only two main branches forming a Y, growing east and west above the alley between rows. These branches, at a crotch angle of 60-70o. It is expensive to install.

Other Types of Tatura Trellis a) Geneva Y Trellis Trellis height of 2.0 m and angle of 60o between the arms of the Y. There are 3 support wires.

b) Solen Y Two branches are selected as cordons. Each cordon is curved back over the trunk and placed along the bottom wire of the trellis. Secondary branches are trained upward in a Y-shape, with 60o between the arms of the Y. Seven support wires, including the bottom one where the cordons lay.

c) V Trellis Two m height with 5 support wires. d) Perpendicular “V” or Kearney System Without trellis. Trees are spaced ~2 m in the row and 5-6 m between rows. Tree height ranges up to 4.5 m. High early yield and ease of orchard management.

e) Murrumbidge Irrigation Area (MIA) Trellis Double-row opposed planar A shaped canopy. Only one arm/tree is grown east or west across the major 6.0 m inter row space.

f) Mikado System Four main branch elements. Therefore, vegetative growth is partitioned into four and three elements of equal strength, respectively. These elements are arranged in a V-like shape. Excellent light interception, high fruit quality and efficient use of orchard space. Lower investment cost for establishing orchards. 6000 branch elements/ha using a planting density of 1500 trees/ha. High yield in the third year already.

9. Lincoln Canopy Mechanical harvest. T-trellis.

10. Tapered Tree wall or Hedgerow Can be cordons, pillars, dwarf pyramids, or other more complex systems. Height of the wall may vary from 2-5 m. High quality fruit production. Least input of labor and capital.

Tapered treewalls developed in Oregon. Starking/M.9 treewall spaced 15 x 4 ft., Golden Delicious/M.26 spaced 9 x 3 ft., and Spur Golden/M.26 spaced 6 x 3 ft.

11. Modified Egyptian System Modification of the other system to convert the Egyptian conditions. Apple grafted on MM106 Rt. and planted at 2 or 3 m apart within the rows and 2 to 4 m between rows. Base laterals are oriented down. Top laterals are grown upright.

12. Chemical Training IBA, 250-1000 ppm. Daminozide, MH, 1200 ppm. TIBA, 50 ppm. Ethephon, 300-500 ppm. SADH, 500 ppm. Cytokinin, 100 ppm. Control SADH Ethephon Cytokinin

Training Methods In Relation to :

1. Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality and Photosynthesis

2. Species, Variety, Rootstocks, Dense Planting and Costs

Pruning of Deciduous Fruit Trees The kind of fruit is important in determining the best pruning method because of the different flowering habits and the different ultimate fruit size at harvest. Fruits such as peach, that initiate their flowers on current shoots and that have naturally large fruits respond better to heavy pruning than those that set flowers on older spurs (apple and pear) and have naturally small fruits (cherry).

Conclusion In general, It could be concluded that V and Y training systems gave the greatest LAI, light interception and yield efficiency as compared with SS, CL and inter-stem CL training systems. Density was the predominant factor affecting tree growth, LA, light interception and fruit yield years regardless of training system.

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