Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Horticultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
2
El-Kanater Research Station, Kalubia, Egypt
Abstract
The effect of summer pruning and shoot topping in April, May or June on Anna apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees/M.M. 106 were studied through 1995/96 seasons to investigate the response on growth rate, leaf mineral content, productivity, fruit characters, and fruit mineral content. The growth rate of shoot length, number of shoots, leaf area, and dry matter increased after summer pruning and shoot topping. Also, the leaves of pruned trees accumulated much more nutrient elements (N, P, K). Productivity parameters (percentage of fruit set, number of spurs in one meter of a main scafold, and spurs' number per pruned tree apparently increased with pruning treatments. Pre-harvest fruit abscission significantly decreased, may be as a result of raising the level of potassium in both leaf and fruit. Although the number of mature fruits per tree decreased, fruit quality characters (fruit weight, volume, fimness, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity and TSS/ratio), and fruit nutrient elements content (N,P,K, Ca) increased. The influence of summer pruning was found to be linearly related to its severity (the length of removed shoot). However, pruning in May was better than in April or June.
)
View on SCiNiTO