Comparison of growth and yield of kiwifruit on different vine support structures

Abstract

Vine growth, pruning requirements, yield, and postharvest storage of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) grown on five different vine support structures were compared over 5 years from grafting. Support structures were winged T-bars and pergolas (standard structures), Lincoln T-bars, divided T-bars, and A-frames. Cumulative length of fruiting canes in the 3 years to full canopy closure was greatest for Lincoln T-bars, A-frames, and pergolas, and least for winged and divided T-bars. The proportion of budbreak was higher on pergolas than on the three T-bar systems and was least on A-frames. Floral budbreak and flowers per floral shoot were also lower on A-frames than on the other systems. Cumulative yields of export fruit were highest for pergolas and winged T-bars, and lowest for A-frames. Differences in postharvest storage were detected between fruit from different structures, but these differences were not consistent among years. The time required to prune each vine was least for pergolas and winged Tbars. Vines on A-frame structures took substantially more time to prune than vines on pergola structures.

Discovery of Lake Sinai virus and an unusual strain of acute bee paralysis virus in West African apiaries

“…Today it represents an important economic activity in many parts of the world because of the honey that bees (Apis mellifera ) produce, whereas the economic value of the pollination services is many times higher. In fact, more than 60 % of the 1330 cultivated crop species depend on bee pollination, which is also known to improve crop quality (Jacobs et al 2006;Klein et al 2007;Roubik 1995;Kearns et al 1998;Hopping et al 1993). The contribution of honey bees to the Gross Domestic Products is estimated to more than $15 billion per year in the United States and £200 million per year in the United Kingdoms (Morse and Calderone 2000).…”