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Light interception and partitioning between shoots in apple cultivars influenced by training
Jean Stephan1, Hervé Sinoquet, Nicolas Donès
1UMR547 PIAF, INRA, Univ Blaise Pascal, F-63100 Clermont Ferrand, France.
Tree Physiology
|January 4, 2008
Summary
Apple tree training systems significantly impact shoot development and light interception, with Centrifugal Training improving light exposure for fruiting shoots compared to Central Leader. This affects overall canopy efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Horticulture
- Plant Physiology
- Agricultural Engineering
Background:
- Apple tree training systems influence canopy architecture and light penetration.
- Understanding how different pruning methods affect shoot development is crucial for optimizing fruit production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effect of Central Leader and Centrifugal Training systems on apple tree canopy structure and light interception.
- To compare these effects across three distinct apple cultivars: 'Scarletspur Delicious', 'Golden Delicious', and 'Granny Smith'.
Main Methods:
- 3D digitization of apple trees at the shoot scale over two harvest seasons.
- Categorization of shoots by length (short/long) and type (fruiting/vegetative).
- Analysis of leaf area density (LAD), total leaf area (TLA), crown volume (V), and light interception parameters (STAR, PLA).
Main Results:
- Training systems did not affect whole-tree structure or light interception (STAR, PLA).
- Centrifugal Training enhanced shoot-scale STAR compared to Central Leader.
- Vegetative shoots consistently had higher STAR, but Centrifugal Training balanced TLA and PLA between shoot types, unlike Central Leader.
Conclusions:
- Training systems significantly influence shoot spatial positioning and development.
- Centrifugal Training promotes more balanced light interception by fruiting shoots compared to Central Leader.
- Optimizing training systems is key to improving light interception by fruiting structures in apple trees.
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