scholarly journals Long-term Effects of Training Systems and Rootstocks on ‘McIntosh’ and ‘Honeycrisp’ Performance, a 15-year Study in a Northern Cold Climate—Part 1: Agronomic Analysis

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 968-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaume Lordan ◽  
Anna Wallis ◽  
Poliana Francescatto ◽  
Terence L. Robinson

Choice of cultivar, training system, planting density, and rootstock affect orchard performance and profitability. To provide guidance to growers in northern cold climates on these choices, a field trial was established in Peru, Clinton County, NY, in 2002, with two apple cultivars (Honeycrisp and McIntosh). From 2002 through 2016, we compared Central Leader on ‘M.M.111’; Slender Pyramid on ‘M.26’ and ‘Geneva® 30’ (‘G.30’); Vertical Axis on ‘M.9 (Nic® 29)’ (‘M.9’), ‘Budagovsky 9’ (‘B.9’), and ‘G.16’; SolAxe on ‘M.9’, ‘B.9’, and ‘G.16’; and Tall Spindle on ‘M.9’, ‘B.9’, and ‘G.16’. Central Leader was planted at 539 trees/ha, Slender Pyramid at 1097 trees/ha, Vertical Axis and SolAxe at 1794 trees/ha, and Tall Spindle at 3230 trees/ha. Cumulative yield was higher with ‘McIntosh’ than with ‘Honeycrisp’. High planting densities (Tall Spindle) gave the highest cumulative yields (593 t·ha−1 on ‘McIntosh’ and 341 t·ha−1 on ‘Honeycrisp’). Tall Spindle (3230 trees/ha) on ‘M.9’ appeared to be the best option for ‘McIntosh’. On the other hand, for a weak-growing cultivar such as ‘Honeycrisp’, Tall Spindle on ‘B.9’ (366 t·ha−1) and Slender Pyramid (1097 trees/ha) on ‘G.30’ (354 t·ha−1) were the two combinations with the highest cumulative yield, largest fruit size (220–235 g), and greatest efficiency index (4.6–3.9 kg·cm−2).


HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 978-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaume Lordan ◽  
Anna Wallis ◽  
Poliana Francescatto ◽  
Terence L. Robinson

Orchard profitability relies on multiple factors such as cultivar, planting density, training system, rootstock, and fruit quality but is also strongly affected by growing climate and soil resources. To evaluate orchard profitability in a northern cold climate, a field trial was planted in Peru, Clinton County, NY, in 2002, with two apple cultivars (Honeycrisp and McIntosh), where we compared the Central Leader (CL) training system on ‘M.M.111’ rootstock; Slender Pyramid (SP) on ‘M.26’ and ‘Geneva® 30’ (‘G.30’); Vertical Axis (VA) on ‘M.9 (Nic® 29)’ (‘M.9’), ‘Budagovsky 9’ (‘B.9’), and ‘G.16’; SolAxe (SA) on ‘M.9’, ‘B.9’, and ‘G.16’; and Tall Spindle (TS) on ‘M.9’, ‘B.9’, and ‘G.16’. CL was planted at 539 trees/ha, SP at 1097 trees/ha, VA and SA at 1794 trees/ha, and TS at 3230 trees/ha. The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic profitability of ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘McIntosh’ at a wide range of planting densities, training systems, and rootstocks for cold areas such as northern New York state. A secondary goal was to assess the effect of various economic factors on the net present value (NPV) of each combination of training system, rootstock, and density. High NPV was achieved with ‘Honeycrisp’ (≈$450,000/ha), whereas NPV was significantly lower with ‘McIntosh’ (≈$80,000/ha). Within ≈5 years, ‘Honeycrisp’ planted in a TS (3230 trees/ha) reached a positive NPV, whereas 9 years were needed when ‘Honeycrisp’ was planted in a CL system at 539 trees/ha. With ‘McIntosh’, break-even year to positive NPV (BYPNPV) was reached at 9 years for TS on ‘M.9’. Most of the other training system and rootstock combinations needed up to 11–13 years to show a positive NPV. The most important variables affecting orchard NPV in our trial were fruit price and yield. The best option for ‘Honeycrisp’ in northern New York State appears to be TS on either ‘B.9’ or ‘M.9’, whereas with ‘McIntosh’, the best option appears to be TS on ‘M.9’.



HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl R. Hampson ◽  
Harvey A. Quamme ◽  
Frank Kappel ◽  
Robert T. Brownlee

The effect of increasing planting density at constant rectangularity on the fruit yield, fruit size, and fruit color of apple [Malus ×sylvestris (L) var. domestica (Borkh.) Mansf.] in three training systems (slender spindle, tall spindle, and Geneva Y trellis) was assessed for 10 years. Five tree densities (from 1125 to 3226 trees/ha) and two cultivars (Royal Gala and Summerland McIntosh) were tested in a fully guarded split-split plot design. Density was the most influential factor. As tree density increased, per-tree yield decreased, but yield per unit area increased. The relation between cumulative yield per ha and tree density was linear at the outset of the trial, but soon became curvilinear, as incremental yield diminished with increasing tree density. The chief advantage of high density planting was a large increase in early fruit yield. In later years, reductions in cumulative yield efficiency, and in fruit color for `Summerland McIntosh', began to appear at the highest density. Training system had no influence on productivity for the first 5 years. During the second half of the trial, fruit yield per tree was greater for the Y trellis than for either spindle form at lower densities but not at higher densities. The slender and tall spindles were similar in nearly all aspects of performance, including yield. `Summerland McIntosh' yielded almost 40% less than `Royal Gala' and seemed more sensitive to the adverse effects of high tree density on fruit color.



HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1004-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Ferree

In 1987, `Smoothee Golden Delicious' (`Smoothee') and `Lawspur Rome Beauty' (`Lawspur') apple (Malus domestica Borkh,) trees were planted and trained as central leaders or palmette leaders on M.7 and Mark rootstocks or were planted as slender spindles on Mark rootstocks. `Smoothee' trees were larger and had consistently greater yields and production per unit trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) than `Lawspur' trees. Slender spindle trees had lower early yields per tree and TCA but had greater cumulative yields per hectare than trees in the other training systems. In the fifth and sixth growing seasons, `Smoothee' trained as palmette leaders tended to have higher yields per hectare then central leader trees. Training system had little influence on `Lawspur' tree yields. Limb bending in 1989 increased flower density in 1989 and 1990. Cumulative yield per hectare increased 11% as a result of limb bending of trees on Mark rootstock, but bending had no influence on trees on M.7 rootstock. `Smoothee' on Mark had higher cumulative yields per hectare with the palmette leader and central leader than either `Smoothee' on M.7 in either training system or any combination with `Lawspur'.



HortScience ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 627-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl R. Hampson ◽  
Harvey A. Quamme ◽  
Robert T. Brownlee

In 1993, a planting of virus-free 'Royal Gala' apple (Malu×domestica Borkh.) on 'M.9' rootstock was established at Summerland, B.C., Canada, to determine whether angled-canopy training systems could improve orchard tree performance relative to slender spindles. The trees were trained in one of five ways: slender spindle (SS), Geneva Y-trellis (GY), a modified Solen training we called 'Solen Y-trellis' (SY), or V-trellis (LDV), all at the same spacing (1.2 m × 2.8 m), giving a planting density of 2976 trees/ha. In addition, a higher density (7143 trees/ha) version of the V-trellis (HDV) was planted to gauge the performance of this system at densities approaching those of local super spindle orchards. The plots were drip-irrigated and hand-thinned. No summer pruning was done. After 8 years, differences among training systems at the same density and spacing were small and few. The two Y-shaped training systems had 11% to 14% greater cumulative yield/ha than the SS, but did not intercept significantly more light at maturity. No consistent differences occurred in fruit size or the percentage of fruit with delayed color development among the four training systems at the same density. Relative to the LDV, the HDV yielded less per tree, but far more per hectare, particularly in the first 3 years. After 8 years, the cumulative yield/ha was still 65% greater than with LDV. Yield efficiency was unaffected by tree density. Fruit size on HDV ranked lowest among the systems nearly every year, but was still commercially acceptable. The HDV intercepted more light (73%) than SS (53%). The percentage of fruit with delayed color development in HDV was not significantly different from that for LDV in most years. The trees in HDV were difficult to contain within their allotted space without summer pruning. The substantially similar performance of all the training systems (at a given density, and with minimal pruning) suggests that cost and ease of management should be the decisive factors when choosing a tree training method.



HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 451e-451
Author(s):  
J.R. Schupp ◽  
S.I. Koller

`Cortland'/M.9 EMLA trees were planted in 1991 at 1.8 ×4.2-m spacing. The trees were trained to one of four systems: 1) Vertical Axis; 2) Y trellis; 3) Solen; or 4) Palmette trellis. Tree survival was 86% for Palmette trees and approached 100% for the other three systems. Annual yield and cumulative yield per tree of Vertical Axis and Y trellis was twice that of Solen or Palmette. Tree vigor was sub-optimal relative to planting distance in this study. Trunk cross-sectional area of Vertical Axis trees was larger than that of trees trained to Solen or Palmette, while trees trained to Y trellis were intermediate in trunk growth. Canopy volumes of Vertical Axis and Y trellis trees were similar, and greater than that of Solen or Palmette trees. Fruit size on Solen and Palmette trees was larger than that of Y trellis trees in 1995 and 1996, while fruit size on Vertical Axis trees was intermediate. Cumulative yield per cubic meter of canopy volume was the same for all four systems, suggesting that differences in productivity among systems were attributable to the effects of tree training practices on tree size, not to differences among systems in precocity or efficiency. The low heading cut needed to establish the lowest tier of branches on the Palmette system reduced tree vigor and in some cases, resulted in mortality. The horizontal training of the primary branches of the Solen severely reduced tree vigor. In this study, where tree vigor was sub-optimal due to rootstock selection, the additional restrictions in tree growth resulting from restrictive training methods resulted in a significant loss in productivity.



2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeline Wimmer ◽  
Beth Ann Workmaster ◽  
Amaya Atucha

Training systems influence grapevine (Vitis sp.) size, shape, and canopy architecture, which ultimately affects yield and fruit composition. Cold climate interspecific hybrid grapes (CCIHG) have propelled the creation of a new and fast-growing grape and wine industry in the northeast and upper midwest of the United States. This study evaluated the effect of three training systems: high cordon (HC), midwire vertical shoot positioning (VSP), and modified Scott Henry (SH) on vine growth, yield, and fruit composition of four CCIHG cultivars, Brianna, Frontenac, La Crescent, and Marquette, during two growing seasons. The divided canopy training system SH increased the crop yield per meter of row in all cultivars relative to HC and VSP, despite reduction in crop size imposed by crop thinning in vines trained to SH. VSP-trained vines had lower yields compared with HC, and this was most evident during the second year of the study, as vines were still being trained when the study commenced. Despite the higher crop size associated with vines trained in a SH system, there were minimal differences in fruit soluble solid concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), and pH at harvest time. No differences were observed in vine size, expressed as dormant cane pruning weights, among training systems possibly because of the control of vegetative vigor, especially in VSP-trained vines, through shoot positioning and summer pruning. CCIHG cultivars appear to have the capacity to support higher yields under SH and HC systems without compromising fruit quality; however, labor requirements involved in establishing and maintaining more complex training systems should be considered when selecting a training system for CCIHG cultivars.



Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1765
Author(s):  
Stefano Musacchi ◽  
Ignasi Iglesias ◽  
Davide Neri

In 2018, 23.2 Mt of pears were produced in the world across 1.3 million hectares (ha) of cultivated land. This review analyzes different training systems and management styles that have been adopted worldwide, emphasizing the European pear’s economic and environmental sustainability for the Mediterranean area of cultivation. Despite a reduced number of cultivars utilized around the world, pear presents a plethora of innovative training systems. In Europe, dwarfing rootstocks have led to reduced planting distances and a subsequent increase in planting density. Still, the economic sustainability of these systems is now questionable. Many of the quince rootstocks have made it possible to considerably reduce the size of the tree and introduce the concept of continuous row planting, with the management of orchards from the ground (i.e., pedestrian orchard). The planting distance must be chosen according to the soil fertility, the vigor of the grafting combination, and the training system. The planting distance dramatically affects the pruning and the management of soil, fertilization, and irrigation. The reduction of tree size also lowers the volume of spray necessary when applying pesticides. The variability in yield worldwide results from the interaction amongst cultivar/rootstock/training system/climate/management.



HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1122c-1122
Author(s):  
David C. Ferree

In 1981, four apple cultivars were established as a low trellis hedgerow on M.9 or free-standing central leaders on M.7 at the recommended or half the recommended spacing with the close planted trees either root pruned annually at bloom or hedged in August. Planting at half the spacing and annual summer hedging 2 sides decreased TCA 25% and canopy volume 51% with no effect on shoot growth, while annual root pruning decreased TCA 34%, canopy volume 50% and shoot length 25%. Planting at half spacing and either hedging or root pruning reduced yields per tree. Efficiency as measured by yield TCA was decreased by hedging and as measured by yield/m3 canopy volume was increased by both treatments with hedging having the greatest effect. The cumulative yield/ha was increased by both hedging and root pruning with no difference between them. Fruit size was decreased by close planting and root pruning caused a greater decrease than hedging. Close planting increased the number of spurs and shoots and LAI per unit volume of canopy with no difference between hedging or root pruning. `Empire' outproduced `Smoothee' and `Delicious' on the trellis and `Lawspur' had higher yields than any other cultivar in the central leader.



2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ((04) 2019) ◽  
pp. 574-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Fontanella Sander ◽  
Tiago Afonso Macedo ◽  
Pricila Santos da Silva ◽  
Juliana Fátima Welter ◽  
Augusto José Posser ◽  
...  

Apple is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. In Brazil, apple is the deciduous fruit of major importance. Its production is focused in the southern region of the country. To increase apple tree yield and to optimize fruit quality, it is important to choose a suitable training system to obtain greater light interception and photosynthetic radiation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate vegetative and productive aspects of the cultivar Maxi Gala grafted on seven-year-old dwarf rootstock M.9, under three different training systems: Tall Spindle, Solaxe and Vertical Axis. The experimental orchard was implemented in August, 2010 in Vacaria city, Rio Grande do Sul province, Brazil. The experiment was conducted and evaluated in (2014-2017) seasons. The results showed that Tall Spindle, Solaxe and Vertical Axis driving systems had no effect on internode length, plant height, fruit diameter and quality parameters such as pulp firmness and soluble solids. Therefore, the Tall Spindle driving system was more efficient for accumulative production, being this the indicated combination for regions with the edaphoclimatic characteristics like those of the orchard under study.



Author(s):  
Ilze Grāvīte ◽  
Edīte Kaufmane ◽  
Laila Ikase ◽  
Edgars Cirša

Abstract All growers prefer to obtain a first harvest as soon as possible. The aim of this study was to identify an effective tree training system for new Latvian plum cultivars, which provides the highest yield and fruit quality. The trial was established in 2012 at the Institute of Horticulture (formerly Latvia State Institute of Fruit-Growing) and included cultivars ‘Ance’, ‘Adelyn’, and ‘Sonora’; and the controls ‘Victoria’ and ‘Jubileum’. Planting distances were 4 × 2.5 m, and the rootstock was Prunus cerasifera. Tree training was done using four systems: two systems with branch bending (Heka espalier and spindle); and two systems without bending (standard (round) and flat crown). Evaluation of average fruit weight and yield per trunk cross section area (TCSA) was done from 2015 to 2017. The Heka espalier and spindle systems had first yield in 2015, but systems without bending had first yield only in 2016. Average yield per TCSA was significantly higher for the Heka espalier system (0.49 kg·cm−2) than for the spindle system (0.24 kg·cm−2), standard crown system (0.17 kg·cm−2), and flat crown system (0.30 kg·cm−2). Cultivar ‘Victoria’ had the highest yield among all systems. Average fruit size showed the same results: the biggest fruits were obtained with the Heka espalier system, and the smallest for systems without bending in the standard crown.



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