Title: EFFECT OF ROOT PRUNING AND TRUNK SCORING ON YOUNG BEARING
APPLE TREES Submitted to: HortScience Publication Type: Peer
Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: April 11, 1995
Publication Date: N/A Interpretive Summary: Excessive vegetative
growth can reduce fruiting and fruit quality in apple trees.
Methods to control unwanted growth in high density apple
orchards are limited due to the loss of effective plant growth
regulating chemicals. Root pruning or trunk scoring have been
shown to control growth on apple trees in some fruit producing
regions. Studies were initiated to evaluate the effect of root
pruning, trunk scoring, and a combined treatment over several
years on the growth of young apple trees on semi-dwarf rootstock
in a high density planting. The combined treatment of root
pruning + trunk scoring was generally most effective in reducing
tree growth. However, overall results were inconsistent and
discouraging in terms of the extent of growth control achieved
under the conditions of this