Pear pruning and training for economically sustainable production

To obtain dwarfed easy-to-manage pear trees while keeping the autonomy of vigorous rootstocks, we developed a small open vase training system fully manageable by the ground with 550 trees per hectare, utilizing four clones of a local germplasm cultivar 'Pera Angelica di Serrungarina' and the synonym Santa Lucia. Training was characterized by: 1) minimal summer and winter pruning, 2) no heading back of shoots and branches (taille longue), and 3) selection of permanent fruiting branches (main scaffolds) after two to three years of growth. Two experimental trials were planted in Marche Region (Central Italy), grafted on microprogated 'Conference' (only in one trial) and 'Old Home' x 'Farmingdale' 40 - Farold 40® and on cuttings of quince BA29. In the present paper we limit the discussion to branch architecture to show different flowering aptitudes of Pera Angelica di Serrungarina in relation to the position and the vigor of the shoots. Minimal pruning without heading back helped direct the partitioning of strong rootstock vigor to many growing shoots, inducing early bearing. At the third year, branches had to be thinned and the central part of the vase cleared. No differences among Pera Angelica clones and Santa Lucia were detected. BA29 induced the highest flowering intensity at both sites, Farold 40® had an intermediate performance and micropropagated 'Conference' the lowest flowering. For BA29 and Farold 40® it was necessary to apply iron-chelates and organic fertilizer every year, to avoid chlorosis in the spring (mainly on BA29). Reddish leaves appeared during the hottest summer on Farold 40®.