The Effect of Distance From Pollinizer Varieties on the Fruit Set of Apple,Pear and Sweet-Cherry Trees

In a dwarf-pyramid apple orchard, rows of Cox’s Orange Pippin adjacent to rows of Janies Grieve had greater initial and final fruit sets than rows between other Cox rows. Flowers on the south sides of trees tended to have a greater set of fruit than those on the north sides.

In a sweet-cherry orchard containing a block of five rows of Early Rivers with pollinizer rows on each side, most fruit was set on the two outside rows and least in the centre row. Trees in the outside rows set more fruit on their sides facing the pollinizers than on their far sides. In another sweet-cherry orchard, Frogmore trees set more fruit on their south sides than on the other parts.

In a dwarf pyramid orchard of Comice, the trees with one graft of Conference (every tenth tree) set more fruit than trees without a graft. However, the fruit set on Conference dwarf and standard trees (two orchards of each) did not differ with their distance from pollinizers.     

Malus cv. Baskatong as an indicator of pollen spread in intensive apple orchards

The Malus cv. Baskatong, possessing a dominant gene for red leaf colour, was used to assess the range of a pollinizer in intensive apple orchards. In 1980 in the centre of each of six orchards, a Baskatong pollinizer was planted. All orchards had more cultivars to provide for cross-pollination. For three to seven years, seeds were gathered from trees surrounding the ‘Baskatong’ pollinizer at ten distances from 2.5 to 40 m and in 8-12 directions. After stratification, the seeds were germinated in a glasshouse and green and red seedlings were counted. ‘Baskatong’ pollen was tested for suitability by controlled hand pollinations on six apple cultivars. Flowering periods of ‘Baskatong’ and all of the apple cultivars involved were assessed over three years. ‘Baskatong’ pollen gave good fruit and seed. The ‘Baskatong’ flowering period did not fully cover those of the apple cultivars, because its bloom period was shorter. Nevertheless, red seedlings arose from the seed samples in all orchards, although not in all years. The percentages of red seedlings found were low except, in a few cases, close to the pollinizer, probably because of the adequate cross-pollination. There was no distinct directional effect, but with increasing distance from the pollinizer the percentages of red seedlings declined sharply. Although red seedlings were occasionally found as far as 40 m from the ‘Baskatong’, most occurred within a circle with a radius of 5 m. In one orchard the upper limit of the radius was about 15 m, probably because the pollinizer tree was larger than those in the other orchards. The implications of the findings for orchard lay-outs and pollinizer siting are discussed, taking a circle with a radius of 5 m as an effective range.     

Effect of distance from early flowering pollinizers ‘Maypole’ and ‘Dolgo’ on ‘Fiji’ fruit set

An apple orchard consisting of a single cultivar under the condition of natural pollination must have suitable pollinizers such as Crab apples to ensure stable fruit production. We selected ‘Maypole’ and ‘Dolgo’ as pollinizers for the cultivar ‘Fuji’, and investigated the rate of fruit and seeds in ‘Fuji’ fruits produced by pollen of the pollinizers. We developed a method for tracing pollen flow based on the leaf color of progeny and S-RNase allele of ‘Maypole’, and on Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) analyses of ‘Maypole’ and ‘Dolgo’. These were powerful tools for determining the distance insects (mainly Osmia cornifrons) carry pollen from the pollinizers to ‘Fuji’. Although the fruit set of ‘Fuji’ apples was not reduced with increasing distance between ‘Fuji’ apple trees and pollinizers (probably due to pollen flow from other commercial cultivars planted outside the area), the rate of ‘Fuji’ apple fruit produced by the pollen of the pollinizers decreased with increasing distance. The rate of fruit produced by the pollinizers was 84% and 77% when ‘Fuji’ was 2.5 m from ‘Maypole’ and ‘Dolgo’, respectively, and 71% and 64% when ‘Fuji’ was 5 m from ‘Maypole’ and ‘Dolgo’, respectively, but was reduced to 47% and 39% when ‘Fuji’ was 10 m from ‘Maypole’ and ‘Dolgo’, respectively. However, the spacing could cause reduced fruit size, and require extra fruit thinning for producing large fruits. It could also cause reduction of the yield for increasing the planting area of pollinizers. We recommend that pollinizers should be planted not more than 10 m from ‘Fuji’.     

Top working method and bloom density of pollinizers as productive determinant for spur type apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) cultivars

Apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) shows gametophytic self incompatibility and requires cross pollination by suitable pollinizers. Gradual decline in natural pollinators and insufficient proportion of pollinizers have been observed in the apple orchards over the years across the North Western Himalayan region. This situation resulted in considerable pollination problem in the region. The present study was undertaken (during the years 2006–2010) to examine the effect of top working methods and time as well as type of pollinizers on different growth parameters for efficient pollination management. Chip budding performed in fall, late winter and summer gave significantly higher success rate (90.0, 89.8 and 80.9%, respectively). Other methods viz., side rind graft (85.6%) and cleft graft (71.2%) during February–March, and T-bud (71.7%) during July–August also gave better success. The highest shoot numbers (4.1) and length (92.8 cm) were recorded when chip budding was performed during September–October and February–March, respectively. In 4th year, chip budded scion branches of all the pollinizers recorded significantly higher number of spurs/m twig length with a range of 22.8 (December–January) to 24.7 (September–October). Significantly the highest bloom density (22.1) was recorded on chip budded (February–March) branches of pollinizers in 4th year. Fruit set on top worked trees of ‘Oregon Spur’ was only in the range of 18.0–20.1% in 1st year and reached to the range of 35.6–41.5% in 4th year. Seed numbers/fruit also increased to the range of 7.3–7.9 in 4th year from 2.9 to 4.6 in 1st year. All these factors resulted in better yield efficiency (2.6–3.8) of ‘Oregon Spur’ in 4th year. ‘Manchurian’ crab produced significantly higher shoot length of 86.5–87.2 cm and 146.1–149.2 cm in 1st and 4th years, respectively. However, ‘Stark Spur’ produced the highest number of spurs/m twig length of 28.9 when grafted/chip budded during December–January or February–March, and 27.1 when chip/T-budded during September–October or July–August. Top working with ‘Manchurian’ crab also resulted in significantly higher fruit set (44.2–45.4%) and yield efficiency (3.6–3.8) on ‘Oregon Spur’ in 4th year. This was followed by ‘Stark Spur’ as pollinizer (37.1–38.2% and 2.9–3.1, respectively). Highly significant positive correlation of shoot numbers, spur density and bloom density of pollinizers with fruit set and yield efficiency of ‘Oregon Spur’ were observed. ‘Manchurian’ crab was found to be very efficient as pollinizer, followed by ‘Stark Spur’ for spur type ‘Oregon Spur’ apple cultivar on the basis of higher bloom density and fruit set parameters.     

Flower thinning method affects mineral composition of `Braeburn' and `Fiesta' apple fruit

Summary

Fruit mineral concentrations measured at harvest can have major effects on apple fruit quality on the tree or during storage. Orchard practices must therefore seek to optimize fruit mineral composition. The purpose of this study was to describe and elucidate the effects of hand thinning on whole trees and individual spurs on apple fruit mineral composition. Two methods of flower and fruitlet thinning were compared with no thinning on `Braeburn' and `Fiesta' apple trees. Alternate whole flower/fruitlet clusters or all but one flower/fruitlet within every cluster were removed at full bloom or 14±21 d after full bloom. Alternate-cluster thinning reduced final fruit numbers per tree and fruit Ca concentrations by up to 22%, while increasing final fruit size by up to 21%, compared with no thinning. These effects on fruit Ca concentrations were also measured across a range of fruit size classes. Within-cluster thinning at full bloom or up to 21 d after full bloom also reduced fruit numbers per tree but increased fruit size substantially, by up to 65% compared with no thinning, this effect being less for later thinning. However, fruit mineral concentrations were not influenced by this treatment. Some fruiting spurs were singled to one fruit 14 d after full bloom on alternately flower cluster thinned trees and on trees that had not been thinned at bloom, and compared with unthinned spurs on the same trees. Fruit Ca concentrations, primary spur leaf areas and primary spur leaf areas per fruit were greater for spurs bearing a single fruit (achieved by thinning manually or through natural abscission) than for multi-fruited spurs on the same trees. Spurs bearing one fruit on unthinned trees had greater fruit Ca concentrations, primary spur leaf areas and primary spur leaf areas per fruit, but lower fruit weight than the same spurs on alternate-cluster thinned trees. However, spurs on unthinned and alternate-cluster thinned trees with the same primary leaf areas per fruit had similar final Ca concentrations. Fruit size and crop loads were found not to be important in explaining fruit Ca concentration differences between thinning methods. However our results suggest that thinning method may affect Ca accumulation in apple fruit by altering the relationship between fruit numbers and leaf areas on individual spurs.     

双主干并棒树形对矮化自根砧苹果幼树生长和结果的影响

为了探究双主干并棒（Bibaum?）树形‘富士’系苹果在中国渭北黄土高原地区的生长和结果表现，以 M9-T337 矮化自根砧长枝型‘富士’系‘富姬酷’（‘Fujiko’）为试材，调查了并棒形（1.2 m × 3.5 m）与高纺锤形（1.0 m × 3.5 m）幼树树体生长、枝（梢）类组成、成花率、果实品质和产量等指标。结果表明：并棒形树高、干径小于高纺锤形，砧木粗度大于高纺锤形，2016 年东西方向冠幅（行间冠幅）及平均冠幅小于高纺锤形；单株枝量及单位面积枝量 2016 年高纺锤形较高，2017 年无差异；并棒形2016—2017 年间树高、干径、砧木粗度以及单位面积枝量的年增长速率大于高纺锤形；并棒形 2016 年中枝（5 ~ 15 cm）比例、果台副梢长枝比例高于高纺锤形，2017 年营养长枝（> 30 cm）比例低于高纺锤形，同时并棒形 2018 年枝梢成花率高于高纺锤形；两种树形果实品质及单位面积产量无差异，并棒形单株果实数量、2017 年单株产量以及 2016—2017 年单位面积产量在增长速率大于高纺锤形。综合认为，矮化自根砧‘富士’系幼树采用并棒树形，可以显著削弱树体高度，减小行间冠幅，树体生长及枝量增长速度快，长枝比例低，易成花，果实产量上升潜力大。     

Pollinizer influence on almond seed dormancy

Breaking seed dormancy is necessary for the completion of germination. Maternal tissues (integument and endocarp) appear to control seed germination, although the effect of the pollinizer has also been described. In this work, the influence of the pollinizer flowering time was studied on the stratification requirements of almond seed germination. Stratification requirements were determined in seeds (with and without endocarp) from crosses between a female progenitor and pollinizers of different flowering dates. The results showed an influence of the pollinizer in the stratification requirements of seeds with endocarp. However, no correlations were found between pollinizer flowering date and stratification requirements, which seem to be determined mainly by the female progenitor. In the case of seed stratification without endocarp, the results did not show any influence of pollinizer on stratification requirements. The observed variability within females (within or between crosses) could be due to differences in the shell characteristics, the different accumulation of inhibitors in the integument, or the genetic nature of the embryos.     

硅酸盐细菌在苹果上的应用效果

以富士苹果树为试验材料,研究了硅酸盐细菌对苹果生长发育的效果。结果表明,施用硅酸盐细菌后能够增加土壤中速效钾的含量,促进叶片的生长,提高光合作用的强度、果实的着色指数和品质。     

黑龙江省小苹果高接衰退病的调查与检测初报

对黑龙江省宁安市地区主要果树栽培果园,以随机取样的方式,采用RT-PCR法检测了小苹果上主要果树病毒并明确带病类型,同时对果树发病情况进行了调查。结果表明:发病严重的果园,新梢生长量仅占正常树新梢生长量的33%～40%,病株率达40%～65%,病死树率达13%～40%。平均单果重仅占正常果的30%～50%大小。     

Foraging behavior of Osmia cornifrons in an apple orchard

An apple orchard consisting of a single commercial cultivar and of pollinizers such as Crab apples under the condition of natural pollination needs pollinators for stable fruit production. We investigated the foraging behavior of pollinators, especially Osmia cornifrons Radoszkowski, in order to evaluate their use instead of honeybees.     

Effects of CPPU on fruit set and fruit growth in Japanese persimmon

The effects of hand-pollination and spraying with N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N′-phenylurea (CPPU) on fruit set and fruit growth of ‘Matsumoto-Wase-Fuyu’, which is a member of the pollination-constant, non-astringent group of persimmons (PCNA) were investigated. Staminate flowers of pollinizers in the orchard were eliminated before anthesis. Hand-pollination was carried out at full bloom (FB). Without prior hand-pollination, CPPU at 5 or 10 mg 1⁻¹ was sprayed 11 days after FB. Hand-pollination and spraying with CPPU increased fruit set before thinning of fruits by hand. The number of fruits after thinning did not differ among treatments. The yield of marketable fruits after hand-pollination was similar to that after treatment at 5 mg 1⁻¹, but was higher than that for untreated trees. Formation of a sunken fruit apex, which was observed in about 30% of fruits from untreated trees, was suppressed by application of CPPU. CPPU also delayed coloration of fruit. There were no differences among treatments in firmness or soluble solids concentrations of marketable fruits.     

Effect of part-tree flower thinning on fruiting,vegetative growth and leaf photosynthesis in ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ apple

Flower clusters were removed at full bloom from ten year old ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ trees on M.9 rootstocks, over the whole tree, on alternate branches or on whole sides. Mean fruit weight per tree at harvest was linearly dependent on leaf area per fruit and on light interception per fruit, both relationships accounting for over 90% of the variance. These relationships did not differ between treatments, implying either a mobile pool of carbohydrate or photosynthetic adjustment within the tree to crop load. Measurements of leaf photosynthesis in July and September showed no statistically significant differences in photosynthetic rate of spur or extension shoot leaves on bearing or non-bearing branches. Although the treatments caused no overall effects on shoot growth or leaf area per tree, sides of trees without fruit had greater leaf area and shoot growth than did sides bearing fruit. Fruit mineral composition and percentage dry weight were not affected by treatment except where the treatments significantly altered fruit size. In the following spring, although the treatments did not affect the total number of flower buds produced, branches that were deflowered in the previous spring carried significantly more flower buds than did branches which had cropped.     

生草覆盖条件下不同施肥模式对红富士苹果生长发育、产量及品质的影响

通过随机区组试验,研究了果园生草覆盖条件下不同施肥模式对红富士苹果生长、产量及品质的影响。结果表明:苹果园在生草覆盖条件下不同施肥模式处理均能提高叶片质量,促进新梢生长,其中以有机无机配施(NPKM)处理效果最为显著;同时各个施肥处理也能提高叶片矿质元素的含量,以NPKM处理最高;施肥能增加单株产量和单果重,改善果实品质,与CK对照比较,传统施肥(NP)、单施有机肥(M)、单施化肥(NPK)和有机无机配施(NPKM)处理分别增产15.40%、19.27%、30.15%和54.49%,在一定程度上降低了可滴定酸含量,果形指数、可溶性固形物、维生素C、可溶性糖含量和糖酸比也有不同程度的提高。综合分析,从土壤可持续效用的角度,M处理和NPKM处理的效果最为明显,既能增强树势,又能提高产量和改善果实品质。     

The native pollinators of an apple orchard: variations and significance

Observations on native and domestic insect pollinators were carried out during the blossom period from 1978 to 1980 in a semi-dwarf apple orchard in Ontario. Weather conditions and numbers of blossoms per tree were also recorded. Apis mellifera was the most frequent pollinator for all years. The Anthomyiidae (Diptera) ranked second for 1978 and 1979, but in 1980 the Andrenidae and Halictidae were of greater importance than the Diptera. The efficiency of the pollinators was determined by analysis of the pollen carried on their bodies. Hymenoptera had more pollen on their bodies than the Diptera. Among the Hymenoptera, the Andrenidae and the pollen-gathering Large Andrenidae had the greatest amount of fruit pollen on their bodies. Among the Diptera, the Syrphidae had the greatest amount of fruit pollen. The effectiveness of the pollinators was evaluated by measuring fruit set, seed set and the effective pollination period. There was no significant difference in fruit set between years inspite of adverse weather in 1979. Native insects were important pollinators, particularly in unfavourable weather.     

Effect of tree and branch thinning on growth,yield, and fruit quality of persimmon trees in a high-density orchard

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of branch and tree thinning on growth, yield and fruit quality in 8-year-old non-astringent persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.f.) trees in a high-density orchard over 6 years in Korea. Adjacent trees in the rows were removed in 2008 (first-year thinning) or in 2010 (gradual thinning). Trees in the second treatment also had 25% of the main scaffold branches removed in the first two seasons. Control plots were left unthinned. First-year thinning elevated leaf macro-nutrient concentrations, increased the production of short fruiting shoots (less than 20 cm) per tree, decreased water sprout development and weight of pruned biomass, and increased fruit set compared with values recorded on control trees and with gradual thinning. First-year thinning gave higher photosynthetic photon flux in the centre of the canopy and better fruit quality. There were generally only small differences in total yield across the three treatments in individual years, but much higher total marketable yield from 2010 to 2013 in the first-year thinning plots. First-year thinning improved overall tree productivity, and the gross returns were 80% higher than those of control from 2008 to 2013 when the extra cost of the thinning was taken into account.     

Effects of drought on fruit set,yield and quality of custard apple (Annona spp. hybrid) ‘African Pride’ plants

Summary

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of drought during flowering for both container- and field-grown trees, and during fruit development for container-grown trees, on subsequent growth, flowering, yield and quality of the custard apple ‘African Pride’ in subtropical Australia. Moderate drought (ψ_L=–1.5 MPa) reduced shoot growth by 20–30% and increased the number of flowers per lateral by about 40% compared with well-watered controls due to reduced apical dominance and increased lateral branching. Overall fruit set was not adversely affected by drought. Drought also increased the number of fruit harvested per tree by 47% compared with well-watered controls. This response was mainly due to the increase in flower number per tree. Drought reduced average fruit size by 11% possibly due to effects on cell division in the first 4–6 weeks after fruit set or on net carbon assimilation. In summary, mild to moderate drought during the flowering period and fruit set increased flowering without adversely affecting fruit set, but decreased fruit size.     

病毒对苹果生理生化及生长结果的影响

对感染混合潜隐性病毒的富士、金冠苹果树进行了生理生化及生长结果指标检测,结果发现,与品种脱毒树相比,在生理生化方面：病毒树内含物质ＧＡ３、ＣＴＫ、ＩＡＡ、ＲＮＡ 和蛋白质含量降低,ＤＮＡ含量升高;总光合强度及净光合强度下降,呼吸强度升高。在生长结果方面：病毒树的树高、干径、冠径和一年生枝长度减弱,坐果率和产量降低;果实可溶性固形物、总糖、还原糖及Ｃａ、Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ 含量下降,果肉硬度降低     

黄土高原苹果树各生育期需水特征研究

【目的】准确界定苹果树在各个生育期的需水量及需水特征的季节性变化是指导果园节水灌溉的重要依据。【方法】利用热扩散树干液流测定技术,连续2年监测了旱作果园苹果树(盛果期)的树干液流速率,计算了单株的耗水强度,并与同步观测的叶面积指数、物候特征进行关联分析。【结果】2017、2018年苹果树年耗水量分别为295.5 mm、215.3 mm,分别占同期降水量的88%和58%。在整个年生育周期中,果实膨大期耗水量最多,占果树整个生育期耗水总量的51%(2017年)和41%(2018年),其次依次为果实成熟期、幼果形成期、花期、萌芽期、落叶期和休眠期,不同生育期果树的耗水量与同期降水量具有相似的季节变化趋势。在萌芽期,果树耗水强度快速上升,到果实膨大期时最高可达2.17 mm·d^-1;之后逐渐下降,在落叶期时耗水强度最高值为1.19 mm·d^-1;休眠期树液仍有流动,此阶段的耗水量占年蒸腾总量的5%,日蒸腾强度最高为0.53 mm·d^-1。冠层叶面积指数(LAI)的季节变化表现为从4月初展叶开始快速增加,到5月上旬达到3.2,日增速平均为0.07;之后LAI基本维持不变,日增速仅为前期的1%,最高值为3.4。在11月中旬左右遇到大风天气后快速落叶,LAI在数天内降至零。【结论】苹果树在不同生育期的需水特征有明显的差异,且与叶面积指数的季节变化并不完全同步,需结合不同生育期的水分需求特征开展合理的灌溉、控水等管理措施。     

施用农药福美胂对苹果果园砷污染的研究

 重金属元素砷是果品质量安全的重要控制对象之一。为了解苹果生产过程中砷元素的残留污染情况，为其污染控制提供依据，对连续使用福美胂农药5年的苹果园的果实、叶片、枝干、根系及土壤中的砷含量进行了调查。结果表明，果树喷施或主干涂抹福美胂均不同程度提高了树体各部位和果园土壤中的砷元素含量，其中叶片、主枝皮部、主干皮部和浅层主根（0～40 cm）中的砷含量较高，果实中砷含量也有所增加。喷施处理显著提高了叶片和主枝中的砷含量，使表层土壤（0～20 cm）砷含量也明显提高；涂抹处理显著提高了主干和主枝皮部的砷含量，果实中的砷含量也明显高于对照。涂抹处理的树体砷总累积量高于喷施处理，且地上部分砷总累积量均高于地下部分；各器官中，浅层主根是砷残留累积的主要部位。使用福美胂对苹果园的砷污染表现出持效期长、范围广的特点。     

Investigating Root Density of Plum and Apple Trees Grafted on Low-Vigor Rootstocks to Improve Orchard Management

Plum and apple trees are the most widely spread fruit trees in south-eastern Europe. The main purpose of this paper is to characterize the spatial distribution of roots in medium and course textured soils to improve orchard management. ’Stanley’ plum cultivar grafted on Saint Julien A semi-dwarf rootstock and ’Topaz’ apple cultivar grafted on M.9 dwarf rootstock were studied in a temperate climate and medium and course textured soils. The trench technique was used. There was an intense concentration of roots near the trees and the roots did not occupy the whole soil space between tree rows. The finest tree roots in both species were prevalent. Root density was higher in tree rows versus inter-rows. Both the inter-row and in-row distances can be reduced to increase tree density if light penetration into canopy is sufficient. When a full irrigation regime is applied, a soil depth of 0.8?m would be sufficient for water application, and soil depths of 0.4 to 0.6?m would be recommended for deficit irrigation; water and fertilizers should only be applied over the surface area covering most of the roots. When a more strict control on root activity is desired, the tree roots could be cut vertically at 0.5–0.8?m distance from tree rows. The results could also be used in regions and countries with similar soil texture and climate conditions.