Systems of Pruning on Jigacho (Vasconcellea stipulata Badillo) under Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

Vasconcellea stipulata Badillo is a fruit tree native of the temperate areas of the Andes valleys, found between 2000 and 2600 m above sea level. The good organoleptic qualities and few seeds of its fruit, compared with those of other Caricas, give it a high potential in markets. The development of this crop would allow the economic development of small-scale farmers and contribute to the preservation of genetic resources native to the Andean region. However, there are few studies concerning its appropriate cultivation. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of different pruning techniques under greenhouse conditions. Trees were pruned to one, two, or three axes, or not pruned (control). The experiment was performed in a tunnel greenhouse with polyethylene cover, located 2950 m above sea level in Querochaca (Ecuador), with an annual rainfall of 465 mm and an average annual temperature of 12.9 °C. The duration of each stage of development was recorded. The number of flower clusters, number of flowers, production, incidence of diseases, and weight and size of fruit were recorded. Cuttings took over 90 days for getting before being transplanted into the greenhouse. Flowering began 283 days (40 weeks) after transplantation; fruit set began at 30 days after flowering (44 weeks after transplant); and the fruit started to mature 170 days after fruit set (69 weeks after transplant). The plants pruned to three axes had the greatest number of flowers and fruits and the greatest production, with an average 54 fruits per tree. Pruning had no effect on fruit dimensions.