Training and Prunning Systems of Fruit Trees | Horticulture

Reading this article to learn about the types of Training and Prunning Systems of Fruit Tress.

Types of Training System:

1. Centre Leader/Pyramid System:

A. The main trunk is allowed to develop without interruption. The first branch is allowed to grow at 45 to 50 cm height from ground level and other branches are allowed to grow on main stem at a distance of 15 to 20 cm.

B. Difficult to spray, prune, thin and harvest.

C. This system is most suitable for pear.

2. Open Centre/Open Head System:

a. The main trunk is beheaded, when the plant attains a height of 40 to 50 cm. 3-5 nearly equally developed primary lateral branches which are well scattered, arranged and distributed are allowed to develop from trunk.

b. This system leads to a spreading structure, through with somewhat weaker crotches facilitating thinning, spraying, picking, removal of diseased portions.

c. It exposes the tree to maximum extent and this has a uniform distribution of fruits on the branches.

d. This system is not suitable for high altitude where frost observance is common.

e. It is mostly practiced in peaches, apple cherries and American type of plum.

3. Modified Leader System:

a. This is intermediate form of central leader and open centre system and draws the benefits of both systems.

b. It is first trained like centre leader by allowing stem to grow for first 4-5 years and then headed back to 75-120 cm height from ground level.

c. On the main stem, the first shoot is selected at the height of 40 cm from the ground and 4 to 5 branches located at a distance of 15 to 20 cm and placed all around the main stem are selected.

d. When properly formed, it provides stronger crotches, better spacing between laterals and more height than open head tree.

e. Easy in spraying, pruning and harvesting. Mostly used for commercial fruits i.e. apple.

Types of Pruning System: 

1. Heading Back:

a. In heading back, the terminal portion of twigs, canes or shoots is removed, but the basal portion is not.

b. It stimulates the development of more growing points than corresponding thinning out.

2. Thinning Out:

a. When the shoots or branches, which are considered undesirable, are removed entirely from the base or point of attachment, it is called thinning out.

3. Ringing/Girdling:

a In this process, a circular ring of bark measuring about 3 cm in length is removed.

4. Notching:

a. Making a notch above a bud by removing a wedge shaped piece of bark is termed as notching.

b. It checks the influence of hormone and encourages growth.