주간 절단시기 및 생장조절제를 이용한 ‘후지’/M9 사과나무 수관 상단부 생장조절

BACKGROUND: The vigorous shoot growth in upper part of apple tree canopy leads to poor fruit quality and flower bud formation in lower part of canopy. So, this study was conducted to develop the proper control method about the shoot growth in upper part of apple tree canopy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Trunks of 'Fuji'/M9 apple trees were cut (back pruned) to 2.5 m in tree height on 11 February (dormant) or 12 April (full bloom). Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) was applied at 2.0% to cut surface when trunk was pruned. Prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca) was sprayed at 250 mg/L above 2.0 m in tree height at 23 April (petal fall). The NAA or Pro-Ca application after trunk was pruned at dormant (TR-2 and TR-3) significantly reduced shoot growth in upper part of canopy compared with the control (tree was only pruned at dormant, TR-1), but the percent of shoots showing the secondary growth of TR-3 was higher over 2 times than that of TR-2. The reduction of shoot growth in upper part of canopy by TR-2 and TR-3 increased the fruit red color from the lower part in the treating year and blooming of the lower part in the following year. CONCLUSION: Applying 2.0% NAA to cut surface of pruned apple trunk at dormant was the most effective way for stabilization of the tree vigor in upper part of the canopy in a high density apple orchard.