Current Training and Pruning Practices for Apple and Pear Trees in Korea

Slender Spindle and Solaxe training systems are popular training systems among growers of dwarf apple trees on M.9 rootstocks in Korea since 1997. However, there are some growers adapting a native training system called Kimchangho system following the name of the grower who developed the system in 2003. This system has been adapted to dwarf apple trees on M.9 rootstock, though the system was developed using vigorous rootstocks such as M.26/seedling or MM.106/seedling rootstocks. The model of the Slender Spindle system introduced to Korea in 1997 is the system practicing in commercial orchards in the South Tyrol of Italy. The model of Solaxe system introduced to Korea in 1999 is the system practicing in Franchemont Experiment Station near Bergerac in France. Asian pear trees (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) used to be trained mostly by either pergola system or open-center natural form since 1906, but after the introduction of Y-trellis system in 1985, the Y-system is prevailing throughout Korea. However, the V-system with some modification from the original Tatura system has been tried in commercial orchards. Research trials of two apple training systems and two pear training systems have helped determine the best systems for Korean orchards with around one ha of orchard area per household both for apples and pears.