Light penetration, growth, and fruit productivity in ‘Fuji’ apple trees trained to four growing systems

Abstract

The study was conducted to document the range in soil nutrients, trunk and shoot growth, leaf characteristics and nutrient content, flower bud characteristics, yield, fruit quality, disease occurrence, light penetration, and shoot bark color in a 15-year-old ‘Fuji’ apple ( Malus × domestica Borkh.) orchard on M.26 rootstocks trained to four growing systems. SS trees naturally growing had greater width and volume than the LT lightly heading, MLT heavily heading, and S trees thinning and bending. LT trees had more upward terminal shoots at old branches, large numbers of lateral shoots, and longer total shoot length. Leaf [N], [P], and [K] were the lowest for the MLT trees. SS and S trees had greater flower bud density and fruit yield, but LT trees had poor fruit color and less soluble solids and firmness. Percent light penetration into the canopy was the highest with the S system but not different from MLT or SS. The lowest was for the LT system, however, it was not statistically different from MLT or SS.