Early Results of Apple Training System Trials

In recent years the apple industry has a seen dramatic change in production systems. New training systems being adopted include the Axe (A) and Tall Spindle (TS), with recent work suggesting that tall narrow canopies that lend themselves to the use of mechanized platforms may be more economical. To evaluate these new systems a planting of ‘Jonagold’ (Rubinstar) and ‘Fuji’ (Daybreak) on B.9 and M.9 NAKB T337, respectively,  was established in 2008 at the Horticulture Research Farm at Rock Springs, PA. Four training systems the A, TS along with a Tall Trellis (TT) and Minimally Pruned (MP) are being evaluated. Annual data collected included trunk circumference, trunk growth, number of flower clusters, number and weight of harvested fruit and size distribution of harvested fruit. Labor efforts for pruning, and training were also measured for each system. Calculated data included trunk cross sectional area (cm²), efficiency (g/cm²), % fruit set, and crop load (#fruit/cm² ). Crop load was adjusted by hand in both 2009 and 2010. The trees bore their first crop in 2009, the year after planting. There were no significant differences in yield between training systems in either 2009 or 2010 although ‘Fuji’ tended to have greater yields than ‘Jonagold’ and trees in the MP system for both cultivars tended to be slightly greater. Time required to prune and train trees to the different training systems was significantly different. In 2008 the TT system required the least amount of labor time. However, in subsequent years, 2009 & 2010, the TT required more labor primarily due to summer pruning of the system.

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