Training and pruning in fruit crops
Training: Training refers to the collective practices followed primarily in early years of
planting to develop strong framework of scaffold branches and to give the shape to plant.
These practices may include pruning, tying, staking, fastening, supporting, bending or
supporting over trellis etc. The objective of training/canopy management is to utilize the
available space and sunlight to maximum extent for production of quality fruits. Selection of
training systems depends upon the agro-climatic situation of the region and plant species
concerned.
Objectives of training:
1. To control the direction of growth
2. To develop a strong framework 3.
To improve quality of product 4. To
develop better crotch angle between scaffold branches of the tree 5.
To utilize space efficiency 6. To control amount of growth
Systems of training fruit trees
A.Traditional systems
1. Central leader system
2. Open center system or vase system
3. Modified leader system 4. Multiple
stem system
1. Central leader system: In this system main stem of tree is allowed to grow uninterrupted.
The first branch is allowed to grow at 45 to 50 cm height from the ground level. And
other branches are allowed to grow on main stem at a distance of 20-30 cm. As the
main stem grows continuously, in this system, the trees attain robust shape. Due to less
interception of light the lower branches become unproductive. The bearing is confined
in top portion of trees. Furthermore, the robust shape of trees poses a problem in
harvesting of fruits and practicing spray operation. This system is also known as closed
center system. This system of training practiced in to train pear, plum, apricot, cherry,
walnut and pecan nut.
2. Open center system or vase system: In this system, when the plants attain a height of
40-50 cm, it is beheaded. From the subsequent vegetative growth, 4-6 branches well
scattered, arranged and distributed all around the main stem are selected and allowed
as permanent part of tree. The tree, thus trained attains less height. There is better
interception of light by all shoots, therefore, flowering and fruiting is better in plants
trained in this system. In this system plant takes bowl shape, which provides a good
base for settling of frost. This system of training is practiced to train Peach.
3. Modified leader system: In Indian situation where sunlight is not limiting factor, modified
leader training system preferred over the open center or vase system. This system
promotes the lateral shoot growth and restricts the upright growth of the plant by
checking the apical dominance.
This is the intermediate between central leader and open center system and draws the
benefits of both the systems. In this system, the main stem is allowed to grow for 4 to 5
years; after that it is headed back at a height of 120 to 150 cm from ground level; Lateral
branches are allowed to grow as in the open center system. The plant trained in this
system attains moderate height. All branches receive ample sunlight; therefore, better
production is obtained. This system of training practiced in to train apple and
pear.
4. Multiple stem system: Multi -stem training is common where there are chances of
severe attack of stem borer that destroys the stem completely. In this situation if a stem
is lost another stem keep them as a productive plant. It is common practice followed in
pomegranate training.
Multiple stem training
B. Advanced training systems: Also known as special training
systems or crop specific training systems. These systems are mainly followed in high density
planting or in mechanized farming. The important advanced training systems are:
a) Training system followed in temperate crops (apple, cherry, stone fruits etc.)
1. Espalier system
2. Pyramid system
3. Cordon system
4. Tatura trellis system
5. Palmette system
b) Training systems of grapevine i)
Head system ii) Kniffin system iii)
Telephone system/ Overhead trellis
system iv) Bower system/ Pergola/ Arbour
system/ Pandal
a) Training system temperate crops (apple, cherry, stone fruits etc.)
1. Espalier system: It consists of a central stem from which horizontal fruiting arms at
about 45cm interval. Trees are
planted 4-6 meters apart,
according to vigor of the
rootstock, cultivar and the soil.
About five to six tires of
branches are trained on the
wire. Plants trained on this
system are called 'espaliers'.
2. Pyramid system: In this system the plants are trained in a
fashion so that the lower branches may remain longer and
upper branches gradually smaller. By this way plant looks
like a Christmas tree which are planted 1-1.5 m apart in a
row and 2-3 m between
rows.
3. Cordon system: It consists of a
single stem with side shoots or
fruiting spurs kept short by summer
pruning. In this system, trees are
planted 2-3 m apart, 60- 90 cm
apart in rows. The trees are usually
planted at an angle of about 45o
for better exposure to light. The
trees are supported by three rows of wires, stretched tightly between posts.
two
to form the arms
angle.
supports the arms
4. Tatura trellis system: The Tatura trellis method of training
was developed by Chalmers and Van den Eude at Tatura
in Australia, aimed to produce continuous canopy of
fruiting wood half a meter deep to maximize yield and at
the same time to facilitate mechanize management.
Although this system was originally developed for peach
trees, it is now used for training apple and other pome
and stone fruits. Trees are planted 1 to 1.5 m The rows
are
to 60o
crotch
apart and 5-6 m between rows.
oriented north and south. At
planting each tree
branches.
to a height of 4-5 m.
is topped and allowed to develop
5. Palmette system: This form of growing fruit trees consists of a tree with central
leader having 3-4 tires of two opposite
branches trained at an angle of 30o from the
vertical main stem. The branches towards
These are trained east and west in
Y shape within a 50
Tensioned wire on steel frame
aisle or against the row are removed
b) training systems of grapevines
kept on each lateral.
8. At the second pruning normally 1-2
fruiting spurs are kept on each
secondary arm.
i)
i)
9. After 3-4 years plant become like a
dwarf bush and needs no support 10.
The vines could be planted 1.8x2.4m apart
Kniffin System:
1. C:B ratio is 1:1.42 2.
Given by William Kniffin of New
Head system:
1. C:B ratio is 1:0.96
2. This is cheapest and easiest system of training vines like dwarf bush 3. This system is best suited to cultivars producing fruitful shoots from basal bud eg, Beauty Seedless, Perlette, delight etc. York in 1850
4. The vine is allowed to grow ingle stem with the help of stake, after attaining a height of about one meter it is cut back to produce side shoots.
3. In this system two trellises of wires are strung supported by vertical poles.
4. The vine is trained so that it has
5. After keeping four laterals in all the direction the rest of the shoots are thinned out.
6. These laterals should be cut to 2-3buds at the first dormant pruning, which will produce
secondary arms. 7. Generally, two arms about 30 cm are four canes one along each wire and the bearing shoots hang freely.
5. It is best suited for moderately vigorous cultivars
6. Lower arms become unproductive after some year
7. In this system vine could be planted 3x2.4m
iii) Telephone System (overhead trellis system): 1. C:B ratio
is 1:1.71 2. This system is suited for moderately vigorous
cultivars with more apical
dominance.
3. The wines are trained on
the wires stretched at one
height like telephone wires.
4. The Demerit of Kniffin
system where lower arms
become unproductive can be
avoided by adopting this training
system
5. In this system, vines are allowed to grow straight up to a height of 1.5 m and then trained overhead
on a canopy of usually three or four wires (spaced at 45-60cm) fixed to the cross-angle iron
supported by vertical pillars .
6. After reaching the height of telephone wires (1.5 m) the growing tips should be pinched off to
encourage side shoots close to wires.
7. Two vigorous shoots are selected as primary arms, from which four vigorous
Laterals on each side along the wires are allowed to develop as secondary arms.
8. Each secondary arm can carry 6-8 fruiting spurs.
iv) Bower System:
1. C:B ratio is 1:2.09
2. This system is also known as pergola, pandal
or arbor system 3. It is best suited to vigorous
vines 4. It is most expensive method of training
5. In this system, the vines are spread over a criss
cross network of wires , usually about 2m above the
ground supported by pillars and angles of iron 6.
The vine is allowed to grow single shoot till it reaches the wire network 7. The
main shoot is pinched off to facilitate the production of side shoots close to the
wires
8. Two vigorous shoots in opposite direction are selected as primary arms. 9. On each
primary arm, three laterals on both sides at a distance of 60 cm (along the wires) are kept as secondary
arms. Thus, there will be 12 secondary arms. These secondary arms are allowed to grow and
have about 8-10 tertiaries which after maturity forms fruiting cane.
10. The vines intended to be trained on bower system should be planted at 3x3 m apart 11. This
system provides good protection to the crop again the hot desiccating wind and
bird scaring
12. It has several demerits as well as it is costly system, intercultural operation become difficult, light
penetration is hampered
