EFFECTS OF TRUNK GIRDLING ON FRUIT PRODUCTION, FRUIT SIZE AND TREE VIGOR ON 'BARTLETT' PEARS IN RÍO NEGRO AND NEUQUÉN VALLEY, ARGENTINA

Fifty percent of Argentine pear production corresponds to the ‘Bartlett’ cultivar. One of the principal problems on its production is small fruit size. Excessive vegetative growth of trees can increase this problem because of the competition with fruit growth. The girdling of trunks is a practice that is used to control the vigor of the plants and enhance yields and fruit size. A trial was performed during two seasons, in six locations in the Río Negro and Neuquén Upper Valley, Argentina. The results show, in some cases, higher yields in girdled trees than in control ones, in both seasons. Although a tendency to an increase in yield has been noticed in girdled trees, no conclusive results were found. Since the response of girdling shows cumulative effects, it is expected that solid results would be more clearly shown by repeating the treatment in successive seasons.