Analysis of the Causes of Bare Inner Canopy in Peach Trees and Preventive Measures

The peach tree is a highly light-demanding species with easy cultivation and management and strong adaptability. In addition, its fruit is juicy and delicious and rich in nutrients. Besides being eaten fresh, it can also be processed into juicy products such as canned goods, dried fruit, and candied fruit. However, during the planting process, improper pruning often causes the inner canopy branches to become thin and weak, and in severe cases the inner canopy becomes bare, causing the fruiting zone to shift outward and resulting in reduced yield. So how should peach tree inner canopy dieback be prevented? Let's take a look.

I. Causes of bare inner canopy

There are many causes of bare inner canopy in peach trees. First, early defoliation: the leaves have poor cold resistance, causing premature shedding, weak branch growth, and low photosynthetic efficiency, which reduces the accumulation of nutrients in the tree and easily forms secondary shoots, worsening the bare inner canopy. Second, alternate bearing: alternate bearing in peach trees is the main cause of bare inner canopy. In an on-year, the high yield consumes a large amount of nutrients, reducing the accumulation in inner canopy branches and causing thin, weak branches and poorly developed flower buds; in an off-year, the low yield allows the plant to accumulate more nutrients, causing dense and vigorous branch growth that easily forms water sprouts, resulting in poor light penetration and making branches prone to death. Third, improper shaping and pruning: when inner canopy branches are too dense, failure to promptly thin out water sprouts and a small main branch opening angle will both cause the inner canopy branches to become bare.

II. Preventive measures

1. Cultivating main branches

Peach trees have strong apical dominance. The extended shoots of main branches can be lightly pruned and left unheaded to weaken apical dominance and promote flower bud formation and the growth of branches in the lower part of the canopy. The main branches should be cultivated to grow in a curved, extending manner so that growth is even along their length and the development of lower branches is promoted. During winter pruning, methods such as changing the branch head to a back branch can be used to gradually increase the main branch angle year by year, so that the main branches grow in a curved, extending manner.

2. Opening the main branch angle

When the main branch angle is too large, light penetration is poor, the tree form becomes disordered, and branches on the upper side of the branch are very likely to become dense and vigorous, causing the fruiting zone to shift outward; conversely, if the main branch opening angle is small, the tree vigor is strong at the top and weak at the bottom. According to practical surveys, the main branch angle of the natural open-center form of peach trees should preferably be 60 to 70°. For varieties with a relatively upright growth habit, measures such as changing the branch head to a back branch and weighting, pulling, and propping can be used to open the main branch angle.

3. Flower and fruit thinning

Flower and fruit thinning can be carried out from top to bottom and from inside to outside along the branches. On the same branch, first thin out twin flowers with incomplete floral organs, small thin flowers, and late-opening flowers. On the same peach tree, when thinning fruit, first remove dense fruit, deformed fruit, disease- and insect-damaged fruit, and small weak fruit; next remove fruit with short stalks and fruit with no leaves nearby, as well as fruit facing upward.

4. Reasonable pruning

Pruning can regulate the contradictions between renewal and aging, between vigor and growth amount, and between fruiting and growth in fruit trees, keeping them in balance. Through pruning, branches and leaves can be distributed reasonably, improving the light penetration of the orchard and canopy, maximizing the use of various resources, and increasing yield and quality.

5. Disease and pest control

The diseases and pests that affect peach trees include bacterial shot hole, peach leaf curl, aphids, peach leafhoppers, and leafminers. They can be prevented by spraying lime sulfur mixture or zineb during orchard cleanup, and when disease occurs, the appropriate treatment can be applied to eliminate them thoroughly.

The above is an introduction to the causes of bare inner canopy in peach trees and preventive measures. We hope it helps you. For more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.