Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2005: 7(1): 11-15

Effect of summer and winter pruning of peach as slender spindle bush type on growth, yield and quality of fruit

Hossain, A B M S; Mizutani, F; Onguso, J M; Yamada, H

The Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, 498, Hattaji, Matsuyama City, Ehime 799-2424, Japan.

An experiment was conducted in Japan, to compare regenerated shoot growth, pruned shoot weight, chlorophyll content, bud formation, fruit set, fruit yield and quality in summer- and winter-pruned peach (cv. AB-1) trees. Summer pruning comprised heading cut, removal of vigorous and current season shoots on 24 July 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 after harvest. Winter pruning was conducted in February-March 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The weight of shoots removed by summer pruning was smaller than winter pruning. The pruned shoot weight gradually decreased both in summer-pruned and winter-pruned trees. The regenerated shoot number was less and regrowth stopped within 2 months after summer pruning. Regenerated shoot length after summer pruning increased until October. Chlorophyll was higher in summer- than in winter-pruned trees in November. Leaf drop was 2 months earlier in winter- than in summer-pruned trees. The flowers were less in summer- than in winter-pruned trees. Fruit set was recorded in 2003 and 2004, and was lower in summer- than in winter-pruned trees. In 2001-04, number of fruits per tree, fruit weight and yield fluctuated in summer- and winter-pruned trees. A similar trend was also found in 2001 and 2003 for fruit diameter and maturity degree, which showed an increasing trend in 2002 and 2003. The soluble solids content of the harvested fruit in the following season was greater and titratable acidity was lower in summer- than in winter-pruned trees in 2001-04. Regenerated shoot number and shoot growth were low in summer-pruned trees. Fruit yield was markedly lower in 2003 and 2004 compared with 2001 and 2002.