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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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