One-Sided Shift Trellising Addresses Harvest, Pest Management and Cultural Problems in Rubus

Abstract

Static-V trellis increases raspberry yield, but fruiting shoots grow toward its center making harvest difficult. Shading causes early leaf abscission and it favors fungus diseases inside the V. Static training of floricanes and primocanes to opposite sides of a V trellis prevents neither harvest difficulty, nor primocane injury during harvest. In 1988-89 harvest difficulties were reduced by bloom-time shifting of floricanes on a V-trellis. Over 90% of fruiting shoots were oriented to the trellis ' exterior, but primocane shading and early leaf abscission continued. The 'bent fence' trellis was designed and tested in 1989. It shifts floricanes from horizontal orientation to an upright position on one side of a V-shaped trellis, thus retaining outward display of fruiting shoots and achieving unobstructed display of primocanes on the opposite side. Harvest efficiency, disease reduction, accurate deposition of pesticides, avoidance of solar injury (sun scald), and adaptation of mechanical pest control procedures are potentiated by this system. It also reduces impediments to studies of carbohydrate partitioning, photosynthetic efficiency, yield efficiency, and intraplant competition.