Years Of Fruit Production Research Articles

Plant organ and sampling time point determine the taxonomic structure of microbial communities associated to apple plants in the orchard environment

Plant-associated microbial communities interact with their host and are important components of the biodiversity of natural and agro-ecosystems. Scarce knowledge is available on the establishment of plant microbiota in perennial woody plants. In this work the variability in bacterial and fungal communities in aboveground organs was analysed in leaves, bark, flowers and fruits on three apple cultivars (Gala, Fuji and Golden), in order to understand changes of the microbiota community structure from orchard planting to the first year of fruit production. Our results indicate that Proteobacteria, Bacterioidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmiculites were the dominant bacterial phyla across all samples. The majority of fungal sequences were assigned to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The bacterial genera Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas, and the fungal genera Aureobasidium and Filobasidium, represented a major component of the aboveground microbiota. Different parts of the apple plant harboured a specific microbiota and the effect of plant organ on the bacterial and fungal taxonomic structure exceeded the influence of sampling time and plant genotype. This work highlights the specificity of the microbiota associated with aboveground apple organs, changes of the microbiota composition during the plant development from orchard planting to the first year of fruit production, and the negligible effects of apple cultivar.

Winter Survival and Second-year Spring Yields of Day-neutral Strawberry Are Influenced by Cultivar and the Presence of Low Tunnels

Day-neutral (DN) strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) cultivars have potential to produce high yields in New England and greatly extend the period of regional strawberry production each year. However, DN strawberries have primarily been evaluated as an annual crop in cold climates; thus, winter hardiness and subsequent second-year spring yields are not well understood. Separate DN plantings were established as dormant bare-rooted plants in Durham, NH (U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone 5b) in 2017 and 2018. During their first year of growth and fruit production, plants were grown under one of two cover treatments: a plastic-covered low tunnel or the traditional open field environment (open beds). In November, plants were covered with either straw much (Winter 2017–18) or rowcover (Winter 2018–19) for low-temperature protection during the winter months. In the spring of the second year when winter protection was removed, the same cover treatments (low tunnel or open bed) were re-administered to plants. Plant survival was affected by year and cultivar, with average survival rates of 82% and 98% in Spring 2018 and Spring 2019, respectively. Plant survival ranged from 34% (‘Monterey’) to 99% (‘Aromas’) in 2018, and 92% (‘Albion’) to 100% (‘San Andreas’ and ‘Seascape’) in 2019. Cultivar significantly affected total and marketable yields in both years, and marketable yields ranged from 35.8 to 167.3 g/plant in 2018 and 121.6 to 298.6 g/plant in 2019. The greatest marketable yields were produced by ‘Aromas’, ‘Cabrillo’, ‘San Andreas’, ‘Seascape’, and low-tunnel ‘Sweet Ann’. In 2019, ‘Cabrillo’, ‘San Andreas’, and ‘Seascape’ produced greater marketable yields during the 6-week second-year season than they had during the plants’ first year of fruit production the previous year, which spanned 18 weeks. Low tunnels hastened fruit ripening in the spring and result in earlier fruit harvests, and in 2019, marketable yields were significantly greater under low tunnels for the first 1 to 3 weeks, depending on cultivar. Total and marketable yields were unaffected by low tunnels in 2018, but were significantly greater under low tunnels in 2019. For cultivars in the 2019 experiment, the increase in marketable yield under low tunnels (compared with open beds) ranged from 92.3 to 166.5 g/plant, except for Sweet Ann, for which marketable yields were 256.6 g/plant greater under low tunnels than on open beds. Using a conservative direct market rate of $4.50/lb, the second-year spring yields produced in the present study had a direct market value of between $3899/ha and $95,647/ha, depending on cultivar and year. We demonstrate that it is not only possible to overwinter DN strawberry plants in northern New England, but that the second-year yield may even exceed first-year production. The results from the present study indicate great potential for profitability from an overwintered DN crop.

YIELD OF Coffea arabica GRAFTED ONTO Coffea canephora IN SOILS INFESTED WITH NEMATODES IN MEXICO

The total of three consecutive years of fruit production was evaluated in six coffee cultivars (<em>Coffea arabica L</em>.) propagated by seed and grafted onto Robusta (<em>Coffea canephora</em> var. Robusta). The plantations were established at 640 m, 920 m, and 1340 m altitude in the central region of the Veracruz State, Mexico. The <em>coffea</em> plants were established in soils naturally infested with nematodes. Grafted plants had higher production than those propagated by seed. Fruit production was higher at 640 m and 920 m than at 1340 m for the two types of propagation. The cultivars Colombia Brote Café and Colombia Brote Verde had the highest fruit yield regardless of the propagation methods; in contrast, Pacamara, had the lowest. The grafted coffee plants that were planted at 1340 m had a yield reduction of 27% in comparison with those at 640 and 920 m. When the Costa Rica 95 variety was grafted, it achieved fruit yield similar to Colombia Brote Verde and Colombia Brote Café. Pacamara produced almost 28% more fruit when it was grafted onto Robusta.

Copper supply and fruit yield of young Citrus trees: fertiliser sources and application methods

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the fertiliser sources and application methods of copper (Cu) in citrus trees during the first years of fruit production. Two experiments were set up in an orchard with 3-year-old sweet orange trees, which were applied with three sources of Cu (nitrate, sulfate or EDTA) either via fertigation (Experiment 1) or via foliar sprays (Experiment 2). Regardless of the fertiliser source, Cu application via fertigation was not efficacious to increase the micronutrient concentration in leaves and, consequently, did not affect fruit yield. Conversely, foliar application of Cu, either as nitrate or sulfate, increased this nutrient level in leaves but when applied as copper nitrate, visual phytotoxicity symptoms were verified in leaves due to salt accumulation in the plant canopy, which reduced the fruit yield. Considering the plant growth and intensified phytosanitary management of the orchard with the application of copperbased products after the third year of the experiment, the effects of Cu treatments on fruit yield are expected to be negligible as the trees age.

Influence of high density planting system on growth, yield and fruit quality of litchi cv. Rose Scented under humid subtropical region of Uttarakhand

A long term field trial was conducted under humid subtropical tarai conditions of Uttarakhand to study the effect of planting system cum high density planting on tree growth, yield and fruit quality in litchi cv. Rose Scented. Treatments consisted of five planting systems, i.e., square system (control), hedge row system, double hedge row system, paired system and cluster system accommodating 100, 167, 222, 133 and 178 trees/ha, respectively. Plant growth, fruit yield and quality attributes were evaluated for consecutive ten years (2002–2011). In general, all high density planting systems had higher vegetative growth during initial years of fruit production which declined slightly during later part of tree growth. Tree stem girth was found to be higher with smaller plant densities in comparison to high plant densities. Square system (control) of planting was found more promotive of tree growth and individual tree yield as compared to other planting systems. Higher plant densities resulted in reduced fruit drop percentage and higher fruit yield/ha, which was found to be highest in double hedge row system followed by hedge row system. Fruit weight and its quality attributes were non-significantly influenced by different planting systems although, slightly higher fruit weight and T.S.S. was recorded in square system of planting. Finally, observations on tree growth, fruit yield and quality attributes leads to the conclusion that double hedge row system could be the appropriate and economic system of planting for stability and sustainability of fruit yield along with appropriate fruit quality in high density planting of litchi under tarai conditions of Uttarakhand.

Growth and Fruit Production of Highbush Blueberry Fertilized with Ammonium Sulfate and Urea Applied by Fertigation or as Granular Fertilizer

Fertigation with liquid sources of nitrogen (N) fertilizers, including ammonium sulfate and urea, were compared with granular applications of the fertilizers in northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Bluecrop’) during the first 5 years of fruit production (2008–12). The planting was established in Apr. 2006 at a field site located in western Oregon. The plants were grown on raised beds and mulched every 2 years with sawdust. Liquid fertilizers were injected through a drip system in equal weekly applications from mid-April to early August. Granular fertilizers were applied on each side of the plants, in three split applications from mid-April to mid-June, and washed into the soil using microsprinklers. Each fertilizer was applied at three N rates, which were increased each year as the plants matured (63 to 93, 133 to 187, and 200 to 280 kg·ha−1 N) and compared with non-fertilized treatments (0 kg·ha−1 N). Canopy cover, which was measured in 2008 only, and fresh pruning weight were greater with fertigation than with granular fertilizer and often increased with N rate when the plants were fertigated but decreased at the highest rate when granular fertilizer was applied. Yield also increased with N fertilizer and was 12% to 40% greater with fertigation than with granular fertilizer each year as well as 17% greater with ammonium sulfate than with urea in 2011. The response of berry weight to the treatments was variable but decreased with higher N rates during the first 3 years of fruit production. Leaf N concentration was greater with fertigation in 4 of 5 years and averaged 1.68% with fertigation and 1.61% with granular fertilizer. Leaf N was also often greater with ammonium sulfate than with urea and increased as more N was applied. Soil pH declined with increasing N rates and was lower with granular fertilizer than with fertigation during the first 3 years of fruit production and lower with ammonium sulfate than with urea in every year but 2010. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) was less than 1 dS·m−1 in each treatment but was an average of two to three times greater with granular fertilizer than with fertigation and 1.4 to 1.8 times greater with ammonium sulfate than with urea. Overall, total yield averaged 32 to 63 t·ha−1 in each treatment over the first 5 years of fruit production and was greatest when plants were fertigated with ammonium sulfate or urea at rates of at least 63 to 93 kg·ha−1 N per year.

Effects of nitrogen rate and application method on early production and fruit quality in highbush blueberry

Ehret, D. L., Frey, B., Forge, T., Helmer, T., Bryla, D. R. and Zebarth, B. J. 2014. Effects of nitrogen rate and application method on early production and fruit quality in highbush blueberry. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1165–1179. Proper nitrogen (N) fertilizer management of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is of major importance in south-coastal British Columbia, but little information is available. A field study was conducted to examine the effects of N rate and method of application on growth, yield, and fruit quality in highbush blueberry during the first 4 yr after planting in south-coastal BC. Nitrogen was applied at 0–150% of current production guide rates either with three equal applications of broadcast granular ammonium sulphate each spring or by fertigation through the drip irrigation system with 10 equal applications of liquid ammonium sulphate injected every 2 wk from early spring to late summer each year. Yield increased with increasing N rate during the second and third years of fruit production. The yield response as well as flower number and plant size were greater with fertigation than with broadcast fertilizers. Fruit firmness also increased consistently with increased N rates, while fruit size either increased or decreased, depending on year. There were no effects of N on fruit oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), titratable acidity, or soluble solids. However, the composition of fruit anthocyanins changed, with concentrations of seven anthocyanins decreasing, and three others increasing, with N rate. In 2 of 3 yr, total anthocyanin concentration was greater in fertigated than in broadcast treatments. Soil ammonium and nitrate concentrations increased with N rate, but only soil nitrate differed between the two application methods. Soil nitrate was higher with fertigation than with granular fertilizers, particularly at the end of the season and when greater rates of N were applied. In summary, fertigation produced more shoot growth and greater yields with less N than broadcast applications of fertilizer.

Scion and stock diameter size effect on growth and fruit production of Sclerocarya birrea (marula) trees

Sclerocarya birrea (marula) is a highly valued fruit tree in southern Africa because of its products which have gained both regional and international markets. However, its fruits have been harvested from the wild with a few provenances being managed on farmland. Grafted marula trees have shown wide variations in scion and rootstock growth (for example, stem diameters), but effects of these variations on tree survival, growth and fruit production have not been evaluated. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess variations in growth of scions and their stocks and (2) evaluate the effect of scion and stock growth differences on overall grafted tree growth, survival, flower and fruit production on farmland, six to eight years after planting. Over 70% of the grafted trees had similar scion and stock diameters, while 24% had thicker (i.e, slow growing) scions than their stocks. Trees with similar scion and stock growth rate had a high flowering percentage (> 40%), but there was also significant fruit abortion during the three years of fruit production. Grafted trees with thicker scions than their stocks produced significantly more (P < 0.05) fruits than the rest. Such trees were also significantly (P < 0.0126, N = 50) taller than the rest. There was a low survival for grafted trees with either thick or thin scions relative to the stock diameters. It can be concluded that unequal growth rate of scion and stock in grafted marula trees has a negative effect on early tree survival and dwarfing characteristics, but this may not reduce fruit yield in the early years. Therefore, scion and stock selection is critical to reduce growth variations which have negative effects on grafted tree growth and fruit productivity. Key words: Fruit abortion, graft compatibility, phenotypic variations, tree dwarfing.

Six years of fruit production by mahogany trees ( Swietenia macrophylla King): patterns of variation and implications for sustainability

Although mahogany, the most commercially important timber tree in Neotropical forests, is widely acknowledged to be threatened by unsustainable logging which does not provide for its regeneration, its fruiting dynamics are poorly understood. During each of six successive years, we measured tree diameters and counted woody fruit capsule segments that fell below the crowns of 82 mahogany trees in natural forest in central Quintana Roo, Mexico. Sample trees ranged from <20 cm to more than 100 cm DBH. Fruit production increased with diameter, and trees ≥75 cm produced significantly more fruits each year than did trees of smaller diameters. Large trees could produce more than 700 fruits/year. Trees ≥75 cm DBH were also more consistent producers: while up to 27% of trees <75 cm DBH produced <1 fruit/year in any year, at least 93% of larger trees produced fruit every year. Over the 6 years, individual trees ≥75 cm produced a total of 367 ± 34 fruits, as compared to 91 ± 8 fruits among trees <75 cm (an average of 61 ± 7 and 15 ± 2 fruits/year, respectively). However, the number of fruit produced per unit crown volume was not significantly different between the two size categories. Fruit production varied among years, with the highest production in 1998 and the lowest in 1999 and 2000. The population of sampled mahogany trees produced approximately three times more fruit, and individual trees produced up to five times more fruit, in the year of highest production, as compared to the lowest. Mahogany does not exhibit the fruit production patterns found in mast fruiting species. Inter-annual variability in size of fruit crops at both the population and individual-tree levels are lower than in masting species, and the synchronocity among trees was low. Basal area growth averaged 76.5 ± 18.6 cm 2/year for trees ≥75 cm and 29.9 ± 1.7 cm 2/year for trees <75 cm DBH, and varied significantly among years. Years of high fruit production were also years of good growth, implying “resource matching” rather than the “resource switching” associated with masting. To ensure seed production for the regeneration of mahogany it is important to retain mahogany trees ≥75 cm DBH as seed sources. This presents a challenge, since currently mahogany trees in this region are harvested down to a minimum diameter as low as 55 cm.

Grape rootstock - scion interactions on shoot growth and cane maturing

Interaction between the rootstock and scion varieties (clones) was examined. Berlandieri x Riparia T. K. 5BB, Berlandieri x Riparia T.5C being the most widely used varieties in Hungary, Fercal, Ruggeri 140 being recently used on special soil conditions ; Georgikon 28 a new established variety and Berlandieri x Riparia T. 8B GK 10 clone were the rootstocks used. The V. vinifera L. varieties were a clone of Italian Riesling and two new hybrids from the same cross population f ( Noble Italian Riesling X Ezerjó) X ( Noble Italian Riesling X Pinot Gris ) }. This study presents the results how the growth habit depends on different scion/stock combinations in the first three years.&#x0D; Shoot growth characters were observed during the initial years after plantation in the vineyard until we got the first yields. Our results did not agree with those of Pospisilova (1977) that the anticipated vigour of shoot growth will appear later in the vineyard only. However we agree with Zimmerman (1970), who showed that the differences are caused by the rootstocks in the growth habit of vines during the first two years already. The differences in shoot elongation decreased similarly to the rootstocks in the first year of fruit production. It shows us that the intense root development caused vigorous shoot growth, which we think to be a rootstock effect. When the vegetative and generative development are balanced already, the effect of scions in shoot elongation became stronger than the effect of rootstock.&#x0D; We also found great differences in the maturation of wood each year from planting of the vineyard to the year of fruit production.&#x0D; During the first years the differences of cane maturation were greater according to the scion varieties, the means were significantly different. In the first ripening year the differences dwindled or increased due to the rootstocks. This means that the effect of the rootstock on cane maturation became stronger in the first year of fruit production.&#x0D;

Growth and fruit production of young micropropagated apple ( Malus domestica Borkh.) trees

Tree size, cumulative yield, yield efficiency and anchorage of six micropropagated (MP) apple ( Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars were determined in 1991 after 5 years of fruit production, as compared with trees budded on domestic seedling (sdlg) or Malling (M) 7a roots. Trees were planted in 1984, with crops harvested from 1987 through 1991. Trees of all scions except cultivar ‘Rome’ were smaller (as determined by trunk cross-sectional area) on M 7a than for MP trees. MP trees of cultivar ‘Delicious’, cultivar ‘Jonathan’, cultivar ‘Rome’ and cultivar ‘Spartan’ were larger than trees on sdlg, while the opposite occurred with ‘Golden Delicious’ (GD). Cumulative yield was affected by a scion × rootstock interaction, with few consistent trends in scion or rootstock effects. Yield efficiency was also affected by a scion × rootstock interaction. In 1991, cumulative yield efficiency on M 7a was superior to other rootstocks with all scions except GD, while the efficiency of sdlg and MP trees was statistically similar with all scions. In general, cumulative yield efficiency for M 7a was twice that for sdlg and MP trees. Nearly all trees leaned in response to prevailing westerly winds, with trees on sdlg generally more upright than MP or M 7a trees.