INFLUENCE OF TRAINING AND PRUNING ON THE

GROWTH, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF FRUIT CROPS

R-2017-HRT-01M
M. Sc. Ag. (Horticulture)
First Semester
HRT 701 Advanced Pomology
Introduction
Training and pruning are the effective methods of controlling;
 tree growth (Bayazit et al., 2012)
 increasing flowering (Day et al., 1989)
 increasing fruit color (Bayazit et al., 2012; Day et al. 1989; Tehrani & Leuty,
1987)
 increasing soluble solids concentration (Mizutani et al., 2000)
 increasing flower bud formation (Miller, 1982) and
 decreasing titratable acid content (Hossain & Mizutani, 2008)

Proper training and pruning also increases the light penetration into the tree
canopy
Introduction
The disadvantages of training and pruning include:
• reduced cold hardiness of flower buds (Marini, 1986)
• delayed defoliation (Marini, 1986)
• decreased carbohydrate levels in the tree (Marini, 1986; Myers, 1993)
• trunk enlargement (Marini, 1985)
Methodology
• Scientific papers, Proceedings, Journals
• Internet Sources – Google Scholar, Researchgate
• Limited availability of research papers
• Time constraint may limit the study
Literature review
Effects of training and pruning on vegetative growth
1. Shoot Growth
• Decrease in vegetative growth on rootstock, young, and mature trees
(Alderman and Auchter, 1916; Ferree and Stang, 1980)
• Summer pruning reduces shoot number but increases shoot growth (Myers
and Ferree, 1983)
• The varied results are most likely due to the different pruning styles
• Heading cut tends to stimulate more vegetative growth from the remaining
part of the shoot following summer pruning. On the other hand, thinning
cut has better canopy control due to the removal of long extension shoot
from the base.
Literature review
Effects of training and pruning on vegetative growth
2. Leaf and canopy performance
• Canopy photosynthesis is reduced due to the removal of a large
amount of healthy leaves
• Leaf photosynthesis is increased by improved canopy light
transmission and distribution (Lakso et al., 1989)
• 20% to 25% decrease in canopy gas exchange rate due to the reduced
canopy leaf area (Lakso & Robinson, 1996)
Literature review
Effects of training and pruning on vegetative growth
3. Trunk Growth
• Reductions in stem cross-section of both young and mature trees
(Mika et al., 1983)
• Depress trunk growth in apple by summer pruning (Greene & Lord,
1983)
• No effect on trunk growth in peach by dormant pruning (Marini,
1985)
Literature review
Effects of training and pruning on vegetative growth
4. Root Growth
• Decrease in root growth and weight by summer pruning (Head, 1969;
Heinicke, 1935)
• Root growth of mature tree is regulated by the supply and demand of
carbohydrate, and pruning operation decreases the supply of
carbohydrate.
Literature review
Effects of training and pruning on fruit yield
• Total yield was reduced by summer pruning only in the first year and not in the
next year in 'Rogers McIntosh' apple tree (Wesley and Greene, 1990)
• Cane pruning increased the yield in both 'Phakadi' and 'Khandari' grapes than
spur pruning (Gopalkrishna and Kerawala, 1961)
• Sandhu et al. (1992) reported that pruning in deep dormancy phase has
significant effect on the growth yield and the fruit quality. The deviation in the
time of pruning from this phase of dormancy resulted in lower yields with poor
quality fruits.
• The lightly pruned trees gave significantly higher yield than medium and heavy
pruning in other fruit cultivars like 'July Elberta' peach (Sharma and Chauhan,
1983).
• Warrington et al. (1996) reported that 'Granny Smith' apple trees produced more
fruit yield in central leader system (63-66%) than in multi-leader system (52%).
Literature review
Effects of training and pruning on fruit size
• Increasing the light environment significantly increased final fruit size
(Jackson and Palmer, 1977; Robinson, 1983).
• Redalen (1992) also indicated that summer pruned trees produced
lower yields but better fruit size comparing to unpruned trees.
• The increase in fruit size might be the result of lower fruit number per
tree (Taylor and Ferree, 1989)
• These are generally related to the carbohydrate demand for fruit
growth.
Literature review
Effects of training and pruning on fruit quality
Fruit quality includes the factors like colour, soluble solids, firmness,
bitter pit incidence, etc.
1. Fruit color:
• Fruit color is positively related to light exposure (Jackson et al., 1971)
• Summer pruning increased fruit color, especially for fruit from the
interior part of the canopy (Warrington et al., 1984)
• The open canopy structure and the open space between rows of a
young or well managed orchards could provide enough light for fruit
coloring
Literature review
Effects of training and pruning on fruit quality
2. Fruit internal quality:
• Robinson et al. (1983) indicated that increasing light exposure on
‘Delicious’ apples improved fruit size, soluble solids, starch content, and
total solids but reduced firmness and total acidity.
• This might be due to the removal of leaf area after summer pruning leading
to less photosynthetic assimilates supply.
• Stiles (1980) indicated that effect of pruning on fruit firmness was related
to fruit maturity.
• Schupp (1992) also suggested that summer pruning might advance fruit
maturity based on the result of softer fruit and earlier onset of pre-harvest
fruit drop.
Conclusion
• Training and pruning maintains an appropriate balance between vegetative
(wood) and reproductive (fruiting) growth.
• Annual pruning of fruit trees always reduces yield, but enhances fruit
quality.
• Pruning increases fruit size because excess flower buds are removed and
pruning encourages the growth of new shoots with high-quality flower
buds.
• Pruning improves light penetration into the canopy, and light is required for
flower-bud development, fruit set and growth, and red color development.
• Pruning also makes the canopy more open and improves pest control by
allowing better spray penetration into the tree; air movement throughout
the canopy is increased, which improves drying conditions and reduces
severity of many diseases.
Thank you!