Abstract
SummaryWhile many undesirable effects of summer pruning on apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) growth and development have been reported, the results are inconsistent and difficult to interpret. This study resolves the inconsistency by supplying a model that integrates pruning effects with tree physiological crop load, i.e. canopy net carbohydrate exchange rate per fruit. Our previous study suggests that the potential impact of reducing canopy photosynthesis after summer pruning depends on the balance of carbohydrate supply and demand. To test the hypothesis that summer pruning affects carbohydrate balance, we measured fruit growth, fruit quality, return bloom, and root growth in 20 year old slender spindle ‘Empire’/M.9 apple trees in response to different severities of summer pruning. Results were interpreted in relation to pruning severity, fruit number per tree, and the physiological crop load. Within commercial cropping ranges, light and moderate summer pruning had slight influences on fruit size and fresh weight. Summer pruning did not affect fruit colour, soluble solids content, starch, firmness, and internal breakdown after storage. Summer pruning alone did not affect return bloom or root growth. However, the potential negative effects of summer pruning on fruit growth, return bloom, and fine root survival can be predicted through their relationships with physiological crop load. This study suggests that the carbohydrate supply and demand balance model feasibly explains summer pruning influences. In addition, the impact of carbohydrate shortage after summer pruning is likely to be mediated by the reduction in canopy transpiration. However, the interaction between canopy carbon balance and water status after summer pruning is also likely to be manipulated by annual weather pattern.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Light and moderate summer pruning had slight effects on apple fruit size and fresh weight within commercial cropping ranges.
- Taxon
- apple trees
Malus domesticat0 - Treatment
- light and moderate summer pruninge0
- Outcome
- fruit size and fresh weighte0
- Qualifier
- Within commercial cropping rangese0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Within commercial cropping ranges, light and moderate summer pruning had slight influences on fruit size and fresh weight”
t0“apple trees”
Claim · model-written summary
Summer pruning did not affect apple fruit colour, soluble solids, or starch.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- Summer pruninge0
- Outcome
- fruit colour, soluble solids content, starche0
- Direction
- did not affecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Summer pruning did not affect fruit colour, soluble solids content, starch, firmness, and internal breakdown after storage”
t0“apple trees”
Claim · model-written summary
Summer pruning did not affect apple fruit firmness or internal breakdown after storage.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- Summer pruninge0
- Outcome
- firmness, and internal breakdown after storagee0
- Direction
- did not affecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Summer pruning did not affect fruit colour, soluble solids content, starch, firmness, and internal breakdown after storage”
t0“apple trees”
Claim · model-written summary
Summer pruning alone did not affect apple return bloom.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- Summer pruning alonee0
- Outcome
- return bloome0
- Direction
- did not affecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Summer pruning alone did not affect return bloom or root growth”
t0“apple trees”
Claim · model-written summary
Summer pruning alone did not affect apple root growth.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- Summer pruning alonee0
- Outcome
- root growthe0
- Direction
- did not affecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Summer pruning alone did not affect return bloom or root growth”
t0“apple trees”
Claim · model-written summary
Physiological crop load relationships predicted potential negative summer-pruning effects on apple fruit growth, return bloom, and fine-root survival.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Outcome
- fruit growth, return bloom, and fine root survivale0
- Qualifier
- relationships with physiological crop loade0
Not reportedComparatorValue
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the potential negative effects of summer pruning on fruit growth, return bloom, and fine root survival can be predicted through their relationships with physiological crop load”
t0“apple trees”
Claim · model-written summary
The carbohydrate supply and demand balance model was judged feasible for explaining summer-pruning influences in apple.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Outcome
- summer pruning influencese0
Not reportedComparatorValue
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the carbohydrate supply and demand balance model feasibly explains summer pruning influences”
t0“apple trees”
Claim · model-written summary
The impact of carbohydrate shortage after summer pruning is likely mediated by reduced canopy transpiration in apple.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Outcome
- impact of carbohydrate shortagee0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Qualifier
- reduction in canopy transpiratione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the impact of carbohydrate shortage after summer pruning is likely to be mediated by the reduction in canopy transpiration”
t0“apple trees”
Claim · model-written summary
Annual weather pattern likely modifies the interaction of canopy carbon balance and water status after apple summer pruning.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Outcome
- interaction between canopy carbon balance and water statuse0
- Qualifier
- annual weather patterne0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the interaction between canopy carbon balance and water status after summer pruning is also likely to be manipulated by annual weather pattern”
t0“apple trees”
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