The growth activity of apple trees depending on the form of the crown and the time of pruning.
 

Accepted 18^th July, 2023
 

Andriy Zablotskyi

¹State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine.

The apple tree is the most common fruit crop in the temperate climate zone. Modern intensive fruit cultivation involves the use of new, highly productive varieties and cultivation technologies, thanks to the creation of small-sized crown shapes with an increase in the number of trees per hectare. Reducing planting patterns and creating more dense plantations can significantly increase their yields. However, the limiting factor that can reduce tree productivity and deteriorate fruit quality is the degree of crown illumination. Ensuring uniform access of sunlight to all parts of the crown is the main task in the process of tree formation and pruning. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of crown pruning at 0 BBCH and early summer 74 BBCH of different types of crown formation on the growth activity and productivity of apple trees of two varieties Fuji and Honey Crisp. A significant decrease (20%) in the number of newly formed shoots in the form of the French axis crown compared to the ballerina and slender spindle crowns was found. However, their length and total growth were significantly higher. The formation of the ballerina crown (with the removal of overgrown wood in the 25 cm zone on the central conductor above the lower tier of semi-cross branched branches) contributed to a decrease in shoot length and total growth. The introduction of crown pruning in the summer also contributed to the improvement of crown illumination - shoot length decreased by 17%, total growth by 12%.
 

Key words:  Apple tree, form of crown, pruning time, shoots.