Cultural and Chemical Control of Vegetative Growth of Deciduous Fruit Trees: Introduction to Workshop

Abstract

Abstract Moderate to high vigor and maximum light penetration must be maintained in deciduous fruit trees to assure high yields of good quality fruit. To accomplish the balance between vigor and light penetration, control of excessive shoot growth is required. Dwarfing rootstocks and spur type scion cultivars are reasonably successful in controlling vegetative growth. However, some species have few adequate rootstocks or spur type scions to help control tree growth. Furthermore, even with the best possible combination of rootstock and scion for a particular orchard site, there are periods in the life of the orchard when additional control of vegetative growth is needed. Vigorous growth is necessary in the early years to fill the allotted space with a viable fruiting surface. Fruit set then is increased by controlling excessive vegetative growth. Periodic control of growth can be accomplished by pruning and training of shoot growth, but these methods are often inadequate for maximum fruiting efficiency, since they are labor intensive and cannot always be accomplished in a timely manner.