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[nafex] Re: Pruning and Growth



The "Lorette System" of pruning is effectively summer pruning that is 
supposed to reduce tree size, and increase flowering.

Chris Mauchline
SE PA, zone 6

--- In nafex@y..., "Raby, Brian {D204~Indianapolis}" 
<BRIAN.RABY@R...> wrote:
> All,
>  
> This conversation stimulated me to go through some of my college 
books (1979
> to1982) to check up on the subject.
>  
> According to what I've read, the auxin produced in the growing tip 
of most
> apple trees produces ethylene that translocates to the lower buds 
on the
> branch preventing growth.  Either an application of Cytokinins, or 
scoring
> just above a bud you wish to break (which basically prevents the 
downward
> travel of the ethylene to the bud) causes side branches to grow.  
It is a
> very difficult topic to explain via e-mail.  
>  
> A great source of pruning, growth hormones and the like are in a 
probably
> obscure 1981 shortcourse proceeding that I purchased back in 1982.  
It is
> called "Tree Fruit Growth Regulators and Chemical Thinning", edited 
by
> Ronald B. Tukey and Max Williams.  To compliment your response Don, 
Dr.
> David Ferree writes on page 100 "Pruning in August after terminal 
bud set
> has been shown by several investigators to improve fruit color, 
increase
> fruit calcium, decrease cork spot, and promote the development of 
stronger
> and more fruitful spurs in the older section of the branches."    
He also
> writes that researchers in Indiana have utilized summer pruning as 
a means
> of dwarfing peach tree to permit high density plantings.  It 
consists of
> mechanically shearing new growth on the tree periphery in half about
> mid-June.  The shoots grow and again are cut in half in mid-July 
with little
> regrowth occurring.  It resulted in yields of nearly 500 bushels 
per acre on
> 3 yr. old Redhaven trees in an Ohio study.  This mechanical pruning 
in tart
> cherries in Michigan also results in increased fruit size and 
sustained
> yields.
>  
> Here's another insert I found interesting; scoring.  Here's how Dr. 
Ferree
> describes it:" Scoring (a circumscribing cut through the bark but 
not into
> the wood) is a technique that fits somewhere between training and 
pruning.
> Scoring the trunk 2 weeks after bloom results in a growth reduction 
similar
> to that achieved by Alar and ethephon and has proven more 
consistent in
> promoting flower initiation than these chemicals. Scoring acts by
> interrupting phloem translocation which causes a buildup of the 
carbohydrate
> products of photosynthesis in the branch portion above the cut.  
Growth
> hormones produced in the apical meristems and young leaves are 
translocated
> in the phloem (which transports products downward in a plant) and 
thus also
> play a role in the effects produced by scoring.  The photosynthetic 
and
> transpiration rates of leaves above the cut are reduced for up to 2 
weeks
> but recover to control levels of unscored plants in 4 weeks."  He 
goes on a
> says "Since scoring requires less than 1 minute/tree, it is a sound 
practice
> economically and should be considered on young trees where a 
slowdown of
> growth and an increase in flower initiation is desired (I have a 
few trees
> like that).  He warns, however, that scoring does increase the risk 
of
> fireblight damage and winter injury in the scored section of the 
trunk.
>  
> Ed, my question to you is does all of this make sense to you or is 
it all
> "old school"?  I've been away from the trade too long to know what 
the
> common practices are to help promote flower initiation.
>  
> Thanks for letting me bend your ear (and eyes) a bit.
>  
> Brian
> Sheridan, IN
>  
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Don Yellman [mailto:dyellman@e...]
> Sent: April 13, 2002 8:46 PM
> To: nafex@y...
> Subject: [nafex] Pruning and Growth
> 
> 
> Tom:
> 
> Agree with Ed.  It seems to me the answer is selective pruning 
conducted 
> throughout the growing season.  This can also assist formation of 
> fruiting wood in otherwise reluctant trees.  Then you won't have to 
> worry about auxins and cytopathic hormones, which are difficult to 
see 
> and even harder to train.  The trees I have summer pruned here are 
> blooming much more profusely than those I have not, and are 
otherwise 
> just as healthy.  I managed to shock a 12-year old Early Cortland 
that 
> had never really bloomed by some pretty severe pruning last August. 
> This spring it is covered with blooms.
> 
> Rgds, Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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