Early Performance of 'Conference' Pear on Four Training Systems

Abstract

To determine how different training systems affected early growth and fruiting (first 5 years), `Conference' pear (Pyrus communis L.) trees on Quince A (Cydonia oblonga L.) rootstock were trained to angled trellis, slender spindle, vertical axe, or Y-trellis. The trees of the Y-trellis had the greatest spread after 5 years, and the vertical axe and slender spindle trees were the tallest. The Y-trellis trees had the highest light interception and had significantly higher yields in 1997 than the other training systems. Average fruit weight was inversely related to crop load.