동계전정 지연이 ‘후지’/M.9 사과나무의 신초생장 및 과실품질에 미치는 영향

BACKGROUND : The freezing injury by pruning can be reduced by suspending pruning work when severe cold weather (-23 to –49oC) is forecast. Minimum air temperature of Gunwi region at 3 February was –21.9oC, and the subzero temperature was occurred until 8 April. So, this study was conducted in two years to investigate the effect of delaying winter pruning until full bloom on shoot growth and fruit quality of ‘Fuji’/M.9 apple trees. METHODS AND RESULTS : The time of pruning were dormant (26 March), bud break (3 April), full bloom (2 May). The winter pruning at full bloom significantly reduced fruit weight for two years compared with the control (winter pruning at dormant), and shoot growth of that was reduced only in the following year. There was no significant effect of delaying winter pruning at bud break on soluble solid content, fruit red color, return bloom, and pruning weight for two years compared with the control. CONCLUSION(S) : These results indicated the delaying winter pruning at bud break of ‘Fuji’/M.9 apple tree did not offer any disadvantage over comparable dormant pruning as shoot growth, fruit quality and return bloom, and delayed pruning at full bloom should not be used on trees with less than optimum vigor.