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- Author or Editor: Curt Rom x
- Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science x
Abstract
Young peach trees 1) trained to a single shoot or 2) allowed to branch, were pruned by removing 50% of current growth at either or both of 2 summer dates. Another group of trees had 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% shoot growth removed by pruning in midseason. Net photosynthesis (Pn) and transpiration (Tr) were increased within 3 days after pruning at either date. Plants pruned twice at 30-day intervals had a 2nd cycle of increased Pn and Tr, with rates returning to levels of unpruned controls within 24 days. Distribution of water soluble carbohydrates in various plant tissues was not altered by pruning. Pruning at 60 days reduced root starch, whereas pruning again at 90 days increased total root carbohydrate content. Pruning early in the season increased lateral shoot formation, and terminal bud formation was delayed by pruning. Plant dry weight was reduced by all pruning treatments, with delayed pruning and increasing pruning severity resulting in greatest reductions. Distribution of dry weight was not altered substantially by pruning, and a balance of growth was maintained between different plant parts.
Abstract
Leaves of spurs and/or shoots of small fruiting ‘Starkrimson Delicious’ apple trees were exposed to light or shade treatments from 60 days after petal fall until fruit maturity. Shading spurs reduced spur leaf photosynthesis (Pn) and transpiration (Tr), but shading shoots had no effect on spur leaf Pn. There was no difference between fruiting and nonfruiting spur Pn and Tr. Shading shoots reduced fruit growth and delayed maturity, but shading spurs had no effect on either. Fruiting reduced—but did not eliminate—spur flowering the following year. Light conditions late in the season had no effect on flowering or spur leaf development the following spring.
Abstract
Source–sink relationships in sweet cherry were altered by girdling limbs both above and below fruiting spurs. Spurs isolated by girdling both above and below had lower total fruit weight per spur and lower weight per fruit then those above or below girdles. Fruit number per spur was not altered, but soluble solids and fruit color were lower in fruits from isolated spurs than fruit from spurs either above or below girdles. Fruit on spurs above girdles were generally highest in soluble solids and fruit color. These factors indicate fruit on isolated spurs also were delayed in maturity. Spurs below girdles were unaffected by girdling. Girdling had no effect on spur leaf net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, or fruit water loss rate. The results indicate that spur leaves alone do not have the capacity to support fruit growth in sweet cherry and must, therefore, be supplemented by photosynthates from other sources.