EFFECTS OF SPUR DEFOLIATION AND GIRDLING ON FRUIT-GROWTH, FRUIT-QUALITY, AND LEAF AND SHOOT CARBOHYDRATE-LEVELS ON THE SPURS OF DIFFERENT AGES IN NIJISSEIKI PEAR
Y. Teng et al., EFFECTS OF SPUR DEFOLIATION AND GIRDLING ON FRUIT-GROWTH, FRUIT-QUALITY, AND LEAF AND SHOOT CARBOHYDRATE-LEVELS ON THE SPURS OF DIFFERENT AGES IN NIJISSEIKI PEAR, Engei Gakkai Zasshi, 67(5), 1998, pp. 643-650
Defoliation and girdling were performed on spurs of different ages of
'Nijisseiki' pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) 10 days after anthesis, and
the effects on fruit growth and quality, carbohydrate levels of leave
s and shoots on the spurs were determined. Girdling resulted in the re
duction of fruit size and fresh weight on 1-and 3-year-old spurs at ha
rvest, but did not affect fruit growth, final size, and fresh weight o
n 5- and 7-year-old spurs. Complete spur leaf removal (100% LR) had li
ttle effect on fruit development on 1-year-old spurs during the whole
growing season, but significantly retarded fruit development and decre
ased the final size of fruit on spurs over 3 years old. This treatment
also increased flesh firmness, soluble solids and pH of fruit on spur
s over 3 years old which may be related to the decreased fruit size. P
resence of bourse shoot and 50% LR treatment had little effect on the
final size of fruit on the spurs of different ages. Our results indica
te that spur leaves play a more significant role in fruit growth and d
evelopment as the spur age increases. The growth and development of fr
uit on a I-year-old spur depends to a great extent, on the leaves exte
rnal to the spur complex; whereas fruits on 5- year-old spurs or older
depend on their own spur leaves under normal conditions. On 3-year-ol
d spurs, the fruit is nourished by its spur leaves and leaves outside
the spur. Spur leaves seem to have an important role in the accumulati
on of carbohydrates in the spur, especially in the older parts of the
spur shoot.