60 



5 50 



c 

 o 



a. 



o 40 

 o 



2.30 



Q. 

 O 



w 

 ■D 



o> 20 



> 

 'J 

 a 



E 

 o 



10 



Delicious/MM.106 



9/16 



Control 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l_l L 



9/22 



9/28 



10/4 



10/10 



10/16 



Figure 3. The effect of root pruning on May 15, 1991 on drop 

 of fruit from mature Gardiner Delicious/MM.106 trees at the 

 Horticultural Research Center in Belchertown, MA. 



Root pruning can reduce growth and reduce 

 drop as seen in two of three sites in 1991; 

 however, it is a drastic treatment. It should only 

 be used in those situations where significant 

 growth control is required, that is, where trees 

 are overly vigorous. Effects on drop should be 

 seen only as added benefits rather than a reason 

 for root pruning. 



Acknowledgements 



The study reported here was part of a larger 

 project that was funded by the Massachusetts 

 Society for Promoting Agriculture, the USDA 

 Northeast Regional IPM Competitive Grants 

 Program, and the Massachusetts Fruit Grow- 

 ers' Association. We gratefully acknowledge 

 this funding. We are also grateful for the partici- 

 pation and support of Dick Gilmore, Greg 

 Gilmore, Wayne Rice, and Jesse Rice. 



Fruit Notes, Summer, 1992 



