Author(s):

RHS Raja, MS Wani, Rafiya Mushtaq, ZA Bhat, AR Malik and Kounser Javid

Abstract: Kashmiri Nakh (Chinese Sand pear) is the most important cultivar of Pyrus pyrifolia group considering its yield potential as well as its consumer acceptability. But due to excessive vigour there is problem of reduced flower bud development, light penetration and increased incidence of insect pests and diseases. In order to stimulate flower bud formation in pear, it is imperative to control vigour of plants. Root pruning, trunk incision and pruning are considered the major growth controlling strategies which were tested in the present study. In addition, application of growth regulators (paclobutrazol and ethephon) were tested for their efficiency in controlling tree vigour and flower induction. The experimented trees were treated with root pruning (during dormancy upto 35 cm depth and 30 cm away from trunk), trunk incision (during dormancy upto 20% of trunk diameter on both sides at 30 cm distance), summer pruning (mid June- thinning out of most of the extension shoots from middle of canopy and 50% from upper and lower canopy), application of paclobutrazol (at full bloom-800 ppm and 15 days after full bloom-500ppm) and Ethephon (at full bloom-200 ppm and 15 days after full bloom-100 ppm). Plants treated with root pruning + paclobutrazol showed better results with minimum shoot length, internodal length, leaf number, leaf area, fresh weight of leaves and maximum number of nodes, dry weight of leaves and per cent bloom. The overall results showed that root pruning + paclobutrazol can be considered as best strategy for optimizing tree growth and flowering in pear orchard.

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