The growth and development of lateral branches in the top, middle and bottom of pruned coffee trees in a hedgerow

The growth of branches in the top, middle and bottom of capped, single-stem pruned coffee trees, cv. SL34, carrying their fourth, fifth and sixth crops was measured. These trees grown at a 3,0 x 1,5 m spacing formed a complete hedgerow during the fifth cropping season. Approximately 50 of the primary branches, 66 of secondary branches and 83 of the fruits occurred in the top third of the tree during the fifth cropping season. There was a marked decrease in the number of fruits per node from the top to the bottom of the tree, probably because of increased shading down the leaf canopy since there was a negative correlation (r=-0,84) between the number of fruits produced per node and the amount of growth occurring above that particular branch. The amount of dry-matter produced per branch decreased appreciably from the top to the bottom of the tree. In contrast the distribution of dry-matter to the component plant parts varied little. This was because the increase in stem length from the top to the bottom of the tree was offset by the decrease in mass per unit lenght. Likewise an increased leaf area down the canopy was compensated for by an increase in specific leaf area (SLA). Although individual fruit-mass remained the same reproductive efficiency declined markedly from the top to the bottom of the tree. The data support earlier work (see Clowes and Wilson, 1977) that there is integrated control of growth and development of each of the plant parts and branches within different parts of the tree. This resulted in a greater leaf area to support each fruit when photosynthetic efficiency decreased as the level of shading increased. However, non-pruned trees were more productive than pruned trees when grown in a hedgerow

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	58086 Clowes, M.S.T., 41562 Allison, J.C.S.
Format:	biblioteca
Published:	1983
Subjects:	COFFEA ARABICA, PODA, RAMIFICACION, ETAPAS DE DESARROLLO DE LA PLANTA,
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