THE TIMING OF FLOWER EVOCATION IN KIWIFRUIT

Previous studies involving the sequential removal of leaves to identif y the timing of evocation have indicated that this event occurs in the previous summer. In this study, shoots defoliated during active shoot growth became thinner canes, with more nodes than shoots defoliated a fter shoot growth had ceased. Buds that formed on actively growing sho ots which had been previously defoliated were smaller and less likely to flower than buds that were formed before defoliation took place. No matter how early the defoliation, it did not completely inhibit flowe ring in the following year. It is suggested that the reduction in flow ering associated with defoliation is caused by the removal of photosyn thates and available resources for the canes, resulting in weaker shoo ts, less likely to flower the following year. The data from this study can be interpreted to suggest that kiwifruit flower vocation does not occur in the previous summer, but could occur immediately prior to fl ower initiation.