Good Fruit Grower

February 15

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TABLE 1 Effect of Apogee on yield and fruit size Starkrimson fruit size was unaffected We evaluated root pruning on a sixthby Apogee; d���Anjou fruit were smaller, leaf trellised planting of d���Anjou on Old No negative effects on fruit size or yield were observed. though we considered this to be an indiHome by Farmingdale 87 rootstocks in Fruit Yield Average Fruit rect effect of the significantly higher which trees had filled their allotted space. d���Anjou (number per tree) (pounds per tree) weight (in grams) croploads on Apogee-treated trees. In Entire rows were root-pruned to a depth Control 267 161 273 years when yields were unaffected by of 1.5 feet at a distance of about 1.5 feet Control + surfactant 297 179 274 Apogee, fruit sizes were equivalent to from the trunks on one or both sides of the Apogee 448 230 235 those of control trees. In the seasons foltree row. Shoot length of one-sided and lowing applications, d���Anjou return two-sided root-pruned trees was reduced Apogee, 2 applications 345 189 250 bloom was on average 15 percent by 20 and 35 percent, respectively, reduced, but this did not translate to simcompared to control trees (Figure 2). Fruit Yield Average Fruit ilar reductions in yield. Return bloom of Trunk growth, an indicator of total vegStarkrimson (number per tree) (pounds per tree) weight (in grams) Starkrimson trees was not reduced by etative growth, was similarly reduced over Control 125 54 199 Apogee. the season; however, yield was reduced by In a separate trial, Apogee was applied 20 and 40 percent for one- and two-sided Apogee 118 53 206 in early spring to individual d���Anjou root-pruned treatments, respectively, SOURCE:Todd Einhorn, Oregon State University shoots of a planar, hedgerow system that relative to the control. were either dormant headed or left Fruit size was also reduced by one box unpruned. Strong control of growth was achieved for Apogee-treated shoots, while size for the root-pruned treatments (size 100) compared to controls (size 90). Given the growth of adjacent untreated shoots, often originating on the same scaffold as their characteristically low yield potential of d���Anjou in the formative years, a yield sacrifice in treated counterparts, was unaffected, indicating limited transport within trees. The localthe year of treatment is tolerable if trees settle into a bearing mode. Bloom, fruit set, and ized effect of Apogee is notable since it offers the ability to precisely manage portions of yield characteristics will be determined in 2013 to assess the utility of root pruning the canopy that are imbalanced, such as is often observed with increasing canopy height, young, established pear orchards. or in the tops of trees that have been headed during the dormant season. Apogee was A second site comprised 30-year-old, widely spaced, freestanding d���Anjou trees on more efficacious when applied to unheaded shoots, but significantly reduced shoot seedling rootstock. Rows were root pruned as previously described, but at a distance of length of headed shoots relative to untreated headed shoots as well. Apogee is not cur2.5 feet from the trunks. Tree yield was significantly increased for the two-sided root rently labeled for pear. pruning treatment only. Fruit size was not significantly reduced by root pruning. Vegetative growth was only slightly reduced. Root pruning Greater tree and root reserves of older trees after root pruning were likely responsible Root pruning is widely used in Europe to restrict root growth and canopy size in ultrafor the different yield responses between the two orchards. Additional trial sites high-density pear orchards. 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