Physical and chemical indicators of apple fruit depending on the method and the term of pruning

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of physical and chemical indicators of apple fruit under different methods and terms of  pruning in Golden Delicious and Jonaveld varieties in intensive irrigated plantation on the substrate M.9 T337. The work has scientifically substantiated and proved the effect of contour  pruning and its implementation during vegetation on the change of physical and chemical indicators of apple fruit.

Modern methods of garden  pruning, in particular early summer pruning, are important agro technical measures for the regulation of growth and fruiting, which ensures the obtainment of sustainable yields of high quality fruits with minimum labor costs when cultivated. New ways of  pruning the crown, contour in particular, become more relevant in connection with an increase in plantings in specialized horticultural farms and an increase in the shortage of skilled workers.

The trees under investigation were trimmed in winter, or in winter and in early summer pruning – granting 10 leaves on growth, and in the winter of the first year in order to form a fruit wall, and later only in early summer pruning by traditional (manual), contouring and contouring with manual processing methods. The contour  pruning was carried out according to the designed template with the formation of the dimensions of the crown 80 cm in the lower part and 50 cm in the upper and annual massive shortening of the shoots on the periphery of the crown. It was established that contour  pruning (with manual processing) provides an increase in the density of fruits and dry soluble substances by 11% compared with its traditional implementation and a decrease of 3% with the introduction of early summer pruning. However, the content of titrated acids in the fruits is somewhat reduced.