Evaluation Of Slender Spindle Form In Young ‘Topaz’ Apple Orchard^*

Abstract

Two growing systems were compared – slender spindle and modified slender spindle, supplemented with or without additional summer pruning. The trial was carried out in orchard of the apple variety ‘Topaz’ in years 2012–2014. The assessed parameters were: trunk cross sectional area (TCSA), crown volume, number of cuts, dry matter weight of pruned wood, cumulative yield, yield efficiency, and relative occurrence of size classes of fruits. The objective was to confirm the hypothesized advantages of modified slender spindle in the period of increasing yields. Based on statistical analysis there was no significant difference among systems in growth measured by TCSA. Increase in crown cubage was the highest on slender spindle with additional summer pruning. The lowest increase of crown cubage was on modified spindle without summer pruning. Number of winter cuts and similarly dry weight was significantly higher on the modified spindle only in 2013. Additional summer pruning influenced both the above-mentioned parameters. There were no significant differences in cumulative yield and yield efficiency between systems. Similarly, the difference in the occurrence of various fruit size classes was not significant. We conclude that study needs to be extended in order to confirm the suggested trends.

Long term cropping and selected parameters of 15 apple tree cultivars

“…Our data concerning the yield efficiency of 'Topaz' are, however, considerably different from those published by Mészáros et al (2015). This difference can without doubt be explained by the much higher ages of the trees evaluated in our study.…”

Comparison of Two Training Methods Applied to Apple Trees Trained to Slender Spindle During the First Years After Planting

“…Consequently, it allows the development of higher number of flower clusters in slender spindle. The findings are in accordance with the previous results (Mészáros et al, 2015) and confirms, that the modified spindle using "click pruning" technique brings no higher yields. However, the better fruit size of modified spindle treatments indicates to more balanced distribution of the assimilates leading to the higher mean specific yields per crown volume, which is in accordance with Dallabetta et al (2014).…”

“…This effect was consistent with the mean crown volume for the whole period of the trial. The overall decrease of the total crown volume comparing to those recorded two years ago (Mészáros et al, 2015) was probably the consequence of the drought in the years 2015 and 2016, as well as the heading back cuts to one-year-old shoots or side branches in slender spindle (Wertheim, 1978). The slightly higher cumulative yields and yield efficiency, related to TCSA, were linked with more intensive pruning of modified spindle leading to larger crown volume in slender spindle.…”

“…It picks up the threads of our previous work (Mészáros et al, 2015). The objective was to confirm the hypothesis that modified training system using "click pruning" eventually combined with summer pruning can help to increase yield efficiency, increase the fruit size, control the tree size and make the pruning faster.…”