• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.329-332
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• 1999

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of grafting timing, rootstock cut timing and leaf removal with promalin ($GA_{4+7}+BA$) treatments on the maiden tree growth, lateral development and flower bud initiation. In mid-March 1997, two-year-old M.9-T337 rootstocks selected with trunk diameter over 1 cm were planted in the field. Chip budding with 'Fuji' scion on M.9-T337 rootstock budded in mid-April was earlier in sprouting than chip budding in mid-June. Late cutting chip budding (LCCB) with 'Fuji' scion on M.9-T337 rootstock was lower in the failed budding percentage with 14% than that of early cutting chip budding (ECCB). Especially, ECCB in April was not suitable for scion growth such as uniformity with high percentage of failed tree. Grafting timing in mid-June and rootstock cutting timing of LCCB induced more branches and flower buds than other treatments. Removal of 8 to 10 uppermost immature leaves on central leader stem and application of Promalin 250 mg/L after every 30 cm of terminal growth produced a 189 cm tall tree with 9 flower buds and 14.2 short lateral shoot from 30 to 35 cm long in length in 1998. Promalin increased branching on second-season growth and, when combined with leaf removal, resulted in uniform distribution of branches along the central leader stem.