Efficiency of pruning on growth manifestations of apple cultivars

Tanya Blagoeva, Iliyana Krishkova

Abstract: This study was conducted during the period 2016–2018 at the Institute of Agriculture – Kyustendil (Bulgaria), in a fruit-bearing plantation of the apple cultivars Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Florina, grafted on MM 106 rootstock. The trees were planted at inter- and intra-row distances of 4.5 х 3.0 m, respectively. Three treatments of winter fruit-bearing pruning were examined: Treatment I – contour, Treatment II – contour + lightening (control), and Treatment III – contour + detailed pruning. The aim of the present investigation was to establish the influence of pruning on the growth manifestations of Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Florina apple cultivars. The average for the investigation period trunk cross-sectional area and crown volume in Florina were larger than those in Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. We established that the application of contour and lightening pruning contributed to an increase in the number of one-year old twigs and the total length of the annual growth in Florina and Golden Delicious. Interestingly, the efficiency of contour pruning only on Granny Smith growth manifestations was more pronounced than that in the other two cultivars.

Keywords: apple; effect; growth manifestation; pruning

Date published: 2020-08-13