• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2017

One-year old pear (Pyrus pyrifolia L.) trees of a new commercial cultivar 'Manpungbae', recently developed in South Korea, were planted in 2001 (planting year 1) and trained to four trellis systems: Y-trellis, Y-II-trellis, pergola, and vase-pergola. To evaluate training systems in the local area (southern Korea), tree growth responses were compared for each trellis system from planting years 3 to 8. For trees trained to Y-trellis and pergola systems, a high proportion of land covered by tree canopy was maintained over the study duration, with 70-80% coverage in year 8. Eight-year cumulative yield per tree was increased in the vase-pergola system with a low planting density and an additional scaffold. Compared with other systems, cummulative yield use efficiency was greatest in Y-II-trellis and pergola systems in years 5 and 8. Compared with Y-II-trellis and vase-pergola systems, the 8-year cumulative yield per hectare was two fold greater for trees trained to the Y-trellis (103 tons) and pergola systems (101 tons). Use of the pergola system improved average fruit weight and fruit soluble solid contents, as well as net income in year 8. Given that we observed reduced fruit productivity and increased labor hours (pruning and orchard work), we consider the Y-trellis and pergola systems to be less valuable trellis systems than the others evaluated.