INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF CANOPY MODIFICATIONS TO ACHIEVE HIGHER DRY MATTER FRUIT IN 'HORT16A' KIWIFRUIT

D.J. Sher, P.J. McBride, M.R. McBride, M.L. Robinson
Preliminary estimate of replacement cane dry weight relative to fruiting laterals and fruit at harvest under a conventional system indicates considerable competition between fruit and shoot growth for available carbohydrate. Since the relative strengths of carbon sinks appear related to the respective organ growth rates, maintaining a full replacement canopy programme is unlikely to maximize fruit dry matter content. Biennial cropping pioneers an innovative approach where only replacement canes would be grown in the first season followed by a full cropping regime in the second season. A variation of this concept involves severing the trunk and growing a full leader (central cordon) and cane replacement in the first season. Underlying considerations are carbohydrate allocation among competing sinks, juvenile characteristics, and trunk girdling sustainability. Data collected on bud numbers, canopy growth, full bloom dates, fruit numbers, as well as fruit growth and dry matter content for the first 100 days after full bloom are presented.
Sher, D.J., McBride, P.J., McBride, M.R. and Robinson, M.L. (2007). INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF CANOPY MODIFICATIONS TO ACHIEVE HIGHER DRY MATTER FRUIT IN 'HORT16A' KIWIFRUIT. Acta Hortic. 753, 353-356
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.753.44
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.753.44
Actinidia, biennial, competition, dry matter, DM
English

Acta Horticulturae