A comparison of seed-propagated and micropropagated Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon): Yield and yield components in relation to crown architecture characteristics

Abstract

A study of the architecture and yield components of young micropropagated and seed-propagated Smoky saskatoons over a 4-yr period revealed no differences in height, but the diameters and branchiness ratings of the seedling plants were greater. In the 3 yr of fruit harvest there were no differences in mean fruit weight or fruit number between propagation types, but there was a difference among years. The yield was considerably greater in the third year of harvest (1996), possibly reflecting the natural tendency for yield to increase as the plants develop. In all 3 yr, fruit ripening peaked in July, with most fruit harvested within about a week on either side of the peak. Although there were strong correlations between the number of infructescences and both fruit weight and fruit number, there was little difference between propagation types. There were no relationships between main-stem diameter and the weight or number of fruit that the plant bore. However, there was a positive linear relationship between yield parameters and the diameter of the shoots bearing that portion of the crop in 1994 and 1995. Although not different between propagation types, terminal shoots were longer and greater in diameter and in 1995 bore three times more fruit yield than did lateral shoots. There were no differences between propagation types in the weight of fruit per infructescence or in the mean weight (0.71 ± 0.02 g) or diameter (10.81 ± 0.11 mm) per fruit. Key words: Fruit size, fruit number, Smoky, ripening period