In earlier articles (Tree Fruit July and August, 2015) we reported how Williams Bon Chretien (Williams) trees on Tatura Trellis produced 123 tonnes per hectare or 123 bins canning–grade per acre by changing tree management, not the rootstock.
The following season (2015–2016) the trees produced 114 tonnes per hectare or 114 bins per acre of canning-grade pears.
This experiment in a commercial orchard near Ardmona (Victoria), is ongoing with the aim to test the biological limits of pear production by sustaining exceptionally high yields of good quality canning size pears (larger than 65 mm).
Tree management included winter pruning to develop short horizontal fruiting wood containing spurs and short laterals with terminal fruit buds.
Trees were sprayed twice with Payback (Paclobutrazol) in early spring to control tree vigour, and improve fruit set and fruit growth. Other management practices were repeated from the previous season.
Two foliar sprays of Payback reversed the effects of flower inhibition. However, part of the flower promoting phenomena by this compound is attributed to alterations in vegetative shoot growth rates, and improved light relations within the canopy, resulting in more competitive sinks for assimilates and nutrients.
See this article and all photos in Tree Fruit February 2016
