Botanical Studies (2006) 47: 251-257.

*

Corresponding author: E-mail: sharifhort@yahoo.com; Tel:

81-89-993-1636.

INTRODUCTION

Many techniques are involved in making dwarfed

fruit trees. Among them, partially ringed bark strip is an

important one. Small, compact, dwarfed or size-controlled

fruit trees provide easier pruning, thinning, spraying and

harvesting, as well as high yields of high-grade fruit and

a lower cost of production (Tukey, 1978). Tukey reported

that ringing tends to increase the size and sugar content

of fruit and to cause the fruit to mature a few days to a

week earlier. The primary factor limiting the use of size

controlling rootstocks in stone fruit production is the

lack of suitable rootstocks that have wide compatibility

among cultivars (De Jong et al., 2001). Jose (1997) found

lower vegetative growth in all the treatments of ringing

(girdling) in relation to control in mango trees. Arakawa

et al. (1997) reported that trunk growth above the girdling

significantly increased and that trunk growth below the

girdling declined. Sitton (1949) reported that the increase

in trunk girth above the girdling might be caused by

an accumulation of carbohydrates. The reason for the

different responses among cultivars is not known.

Arakawa et al. (1997) stated that girdling in apple

significantly increased flowering the following spring.

Girdling changed the fruit quality (increased SSC and

reduced acid concentration) confirming the observations

of previous reports by Elfving et al., 1991 and Greene

and Lord, 1983. Schneider (1954) stated that girdling

blocks the translocation of sucrose from leaves to the

root zone through phloem bundles. The block decreases

starch content in the root system and accumulation of

sucrose in the leaves (Plaut and Reinhold, 1967). Onguso

et al. (2004) reported that partial ringing (cut once) ([4

cm × 5 mm] of four-year-old peach trees [var. ‘Akatsuki

× Banto’]) reduced shoot growth and developing fruit

quality. Different types of partial ringing ([4 cm × 2 mm]

and [4 cm × 5 mm]) using five-year-old peach trees (var.

‘Hikawahakuho’) were performed in these experiments.

We used different varieties, tree ages, and partial ringing

techniques (cut once, cut one week, cut fortnightly, and cut

continuous) to study the maximum and minimum effect of

treatments on the shoot growth, fruit yield, and quality in

different years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Site

The experiment was carried out in an orchard in the

Ehime University Farm located in southern Japan, 33°57

N, 132°47 E at an elevation of about 20 m above sea level.

PHYSIOLOGY

Dwarfing peach trees and development of fruit quality by

maintaining partially ringed bark strips as an innovative

process in dwarfing technology

A.B.M. SHARIF HOSSAIN*, Fusao MIZUTANI, Justus M. ONGUSO, and Ali Ramadan EL-

SHEREIF

The Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Hattanji 498, Matsuyama, Ehime-799-2424, Japan

(Received July 27, 2005; Accepted January 18, 2006)

ABSTRACT.

The effects of partial ringing (bark ringing) on size control of peach (Prunus persica Batsch

var. ‘Hikawahakuho’) wild form (rootstock from seedling) trees was studied. Partial ringing was done on the

trunk 4 cm long leaving a connecting strip of bark 2 mm wide (Experiment I) or 5 mm wide (Experiment II).

In these experiments, treatments included an un-ringed (control), mid cut once (4 cm × 2 mm ring) and mid

cut continuously with attached razor blade (Experiment I), cut once (4 cm × 5 mm ring) and cut fortnightly

(Experiment II). Shoot growth was lower in the partially ringed trees than control. Bark growth resembled

shoot growth. Flower bud was higher in partial ringed trees (cut once and cut fortnightly) than control.

Moreover, trunk circumference was higher in the above ring and lower in the below ring of partially ringed

trees. Fruit wt

-1

was higher in partially ringed trees than in control. Soluble solid content was higher, and acid

content lower, than control in partially ringed trees. The results show that 97-99% partially ringed bark strips

can be effectively used to reduce peach tree size.

Keywords: Dwarfing peach; Fruit quality; Partial ringing.

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Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

The site enjoys a mild temperate climate characterized

by hot humid summers and cold dry winters. The soil is

sandy loam with a pH of 5.7.

Plant materials

Experiment 1

.

Three-year-old peach (Prunus persica

Batsch var. ‘Hikawahakuho’) trees, wild form (grafted

from seedling stocks), were used in this experiment in

May 2001. The trees were spaced at 1.0 m × 1.5 m. The

bark was cut 4 cm × 2 mm (bark length × bark width). The

treatments included a control, partial ringing cut one week

(bark disconnected for one week) and partial ringing mid

cut continuous (bark disconnected every week) as shown

in Figure 1. In the treatment of partial ringing mid cut one

week (bark disconnected for one week) razor blades were

attached to the middle of the 2 mm bark width for one

week. After one week the razor blades were removed. For

the treatment of partial ringing mid cut continuous (bark

disconnected every week) razor blades were attached to

the middle of the 2 mm bark width for 12 weeks. Partial

ringing was done by removing a partial ring 4 cm long

and leaving a connecting strip 2 mm width in the trunk

(main stem), 30 cm above from the soil level (Figure 1C).

There were three treatments each with four replications

used in the experiment. Ten shoots per tree were tagged

to count new shoot length. The parameters were recorded

as follows: new shoot length, total, bark width, total shoot

length, and pruned shoot weight.

Experiment 2

.

Five-year-old peach (Prunus persica

Batsch var. ‘Hikawahakuho’) trees, wild form (grafted

from seedling stocks), were used in this experiment in

May 2003. The trees were spaced at 1.3 m × 2.0 m in a

completely randomized design. Weeding, irrigation, and

insecticide were applied as required. Partial ringing was

done by removing a partial ring 4 cm long and leaving a

connecting strip 5 mm wide in the trunk (main stem) 30

cm above soil level (Figure 1C). The experiment had three

treatments each with four replications. The treatments

were control (no ringing), partial ringing (cut once), and

partial ringing (cut fortnightly). Total shoot length, total

bark width, pruned shoot weight, percent flower bud, and

trunk circumference were measured after tree growth

stopped. The experiment was continued until 2004, but the

treatments were applied once in 2003.

Figure 1. Photo shows the partial ringing structure in the trunk of peach tree. A = 4 cm × 2 mm partial ringing mid cut one week.

Razor blade was attached in the bark strip and removed after one week; B = 4 cm × 2 mm partial ringing mid cut continuous. Bark

(Phloem) was disconnected by razor blade in the middle position of bark strip; C = Drawing shows partial ringing position and

structure in the trunk.

SHARIF HOSSAIN et al. — Dwarfing peach trees by maintaining partially ringed bark strips

253

Figu re 2. New shoot growth in peac h tre e as affecte d by

partially ringed bark strips. Vertical bars indicate SE (n=4). PR

= Partial ringing, mid cut one week and continuous mean razor

blade was attached for one week to and then removed from

the middle portion of bark strip. But in continuous razor blade

treatment it remained for 12 weeks.

Fi gu re 3. Total s hoot length in peach tree as a ffecte d by

partially ringed bark strip. Vertical bars indicate SE (n=4). PR =

Partial ringing.

Fruit harvest in 2003 and 2004

Fruit was harvested in early July 2003. Fruit number

per tree, and fruit weight were recorded immediately

after harvest. Five fruits per tree were randomly selected

and used to determine soluble solid content and titratable

acidity. Soluble solid content (SSC) was measured with

refractometer (Atago PR-1), and titratable acidity (TA)

was determined by titration with 0.1 N NaOH with

phenolphthalein as an indicator.

The experiment was continued until fruit harvesting in

2004. Only fruit data were measured. Fruit were harvested

on 28 June 2004. Fruit number per tree and fruit weight

were recorded immediately after harvest. Ten fruits per

tree were randomly selected and used to determine soluble

solid content and titratable acidity. Both were determined

as mentioned above.

RESULTS

Experiment 1

The effect of partial ringing cut one week and partial

ringing mid cut continuous on new shoot growth was

recorded (Figure 2). Growth was lower in partial ringing

mid cut one week and partial ringing mid cut continuous

than in control trees. Total shoot length was measured

after growth had stopped (Figure 3). The lowest shoot

length was recorded in partial ringing mid cut continuous.

Shoot length between control and partial ringing mid cut

one week and mid cut continuous treated trees showed a

large difference. Bark growth (thickness) was measured

for 12 weeks (May-August) to study the relationship

between bark and shoot growth (Figure 4). In partial

ringing mid cut continuous bark width remained 2 mm,

and all plants withered due to the razor blade barrier

which prohibited the cambial re-combinations. In partial

ringing mid cut one week, bark width increased after the

razor blade barrier was removed. The increase began

slowly and later slowed down before stopping completely.

The weight of shoot removed by winter pruning was

measured for all treatments (Figure 5). The lowest shoot

Figure 4. Bark growth (measured weekly) in peach trees as

affected by partially ringed bark strip plus mid cut. Vertical bars

indicate SE (n=4). PR = Partial ringing.

Figure 5. Effect of partially ringed bark strip on pruned shoot

weight of peach tree. Vertical bars indicate SE (n=4). P R =

Partial ringing.

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Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

Figure 6. Correlation between bark thickness and shoot growth

as affected by partially ringed bark strip. PR = Partial ringing.

Figure 7. Effect of partial ringing on total shoot length of peach

trees. Vertical bars indicate SE (n = 4). PR = Partial ringing.

Figu re 8. Effect of partial ringing on final bark thicknes s

of peach tree. Vertical bars indicate SE (n = 4). P R = Partial

ringing. Fi nal bark wi dth wa s me asured a ft er tree growt h

stopped

Figure 9. Effect of partial ringing on pruned shoot weight

of peach trees. Vertical bars indicate SE (n = 4). PR = Partial

ringing.

Figure 10. Effect of partial ringing on the flower bud of peach

trees.Vertical bars indicate SE (n = 4). PR = Partial ringing.

Figure 11. Effect of partial ringing on trunk circumference

above from ringing. Vertical bars indicate SE (n = 4). PR =

Partial ringing.

weight was recorded in partial ringing mid cut one week

treated trees. In mid cut continuously treated trees, there

was no shoot weight because all shoots had withered due

to disconnection of the cambial layer by razor blade. The

relationship between bark thickness and shoot growth was

strong as shown in Figure 6.

Experiment 2

The effect of partial ringing, cut once and cut

fortnightly, of bark on shoot growth was recorded (Figure

7). The lowest shoot length was recorded in partial

ringing (cut fortnightly) treated trees, and the highest

was recorded in the control trees. Final bark growth

(thickness) was observed to study the relationship between

bark thickness and shoot growth (Figure 8). Bark growth

was lower in partial ringing (cut fortnightly) compared

with partial ringing (cut once). Pruned shoot weight was

measured (Figure 9). It was lower in partially ringed trees

than in control trees. Flower bud was counted (Figure 10).

Flower bud was higher in partial ringing treatments than in

control. Trunk circumference was higher in partial ringing

trees than in control (Figure 11).

SHARIF HOSSAIN et al. — Dwarfing peach trees by maintaining partially ringed bark strips

255

Table 1. Effects of partial ringing (PR) on fruit yield of peach trees in 2003 and 2004.

Treatment

Yield (Kg/tree)

Fruit weight (g)

2003

2004

2003

2004

Control

3.4 ± 0.6

a

3.0 ± 0.3

181.4 ± 15.4

185.1 ± 10.4

PR (cut once)

3.0 ± 0.4

3.0 ± 0.5

185.1 ± 11.3

190.1 ± 2.2

PR (Cut fortnightly)

1.1 ± 0.2

1.2 ± 0.6

180.3 ± 14.5

188.0 ± 1.7

a

Mean ± SE (n=4); PR = Parartial ringing.

Table 2. Effect of partial ringing (PR) on soluble solid content and acid content of peach fruit in 2003 and 2004.

Treatment

Soluble solids content (%)

Acid content (%)

2003

2004

2003

2004

Control

7.10 ± 0.42

a

7.00 ± 0.32

0.46 ± 0.05

0.47 ± 0.06

PR (cut once)

7.60 ± 0.30

7.90 ± 0.29

0.38 ± 0.04

0.36 ± 0.05

PR (Cut fortnightly)

8.20 ± 0.28

8.40 ± 0.27

0.36 ± 0.02

0.35 ± 0.03

a

Mean ± SE (n=4); PR = Partial ringing.

Figure 12. Relationship between shoot length and bark thickness

in different treatments. PR1 = Partial ringing (cut fortnightly),

PR2 = Partial ringing (cut once).

The relationship between bark thickness and shoot

growth was shown in Figure 12 for different treatments.

The data makes clear that when bark growth was lower,

shoot growth was also lower. Conversely, when bark

growth was higher, shoot growth also rose. Fruit yield

was lower in partially ringed than in control trees (Table

1). However, fruit wt

-1

was higher in partial ringing trees

than in control in 2004. Soluble solid content (SSC) of

harvested fruit in the following season was greater, and

titratable acidity (TA) was lower in partial ringing than

control trees in both 2003 and 2004 (Table 2).

DISCUSSION

The results show that partial ringing is effective as a

dwarfing component in peach trees. In the first experiment

partial ringing cut once (in which bark was disconnected

for one week) was found to be more effective than

partial ringing mid cut continuous (in which bark was

disconnected every week). When the razor blade was

removed after one week, shoot and bark started to grow. In

contrast, when the razor blade was attached continuously,

shoot and bark stopped growing. In the second

experiment, it was found that partial ringing cut once and

cut fortnightly was more effective for tree dwarf and fruit

quality. In the case of partial ringing (cut fortnightly),

bark width (thickness) remained 5 mm for a fortnight.

That is why some trees withered. Among all treatments

the most effective was partial ringing (cut once). Shoot

growth was lower in 5 mm partial ringing (cut fortnightly)

than in partial ringing (cut once). This may be due to

less suppression of food movement between shoot and

root by bark ringing. Smooth carbohydrate transport

from leaves to roots through the phloem was suppressed

because the phloem was reduced in width by ringing. It

has been reported that nutrient sap might diffuse laterally

or vertically if normal phloem transport is checked by

ringing cut (Tukey, 1978). Tree circumference was higher

in partial ringing treatments.

Sitton (1949) reported that increases in trunk girth

above the girdling might be caused by swelling of the

trunk with the accumulation of carbohydrates while the

reason for different responses among cultivars is not

known. The percentage of flower buds was higher in

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Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

partially ringed trees than in control trees. This might

be due to a deposition of sufficient carbohydrates and

nutrients in the upper parts of ringing. Arakawa et al.

(1997) also found that flowering the following spring

in Fuji apple was significantly increased by girdling.

Arakawa et al. (1997) reported that growth of the trunk

above the treated area increased significantly and growth

below it was reduced by girdling in apple.

Tree circumference was higher in the upper parts in

the ringing treatments. Onguso et al. (2004) reported

that sugars and starch were higher in the upper parts of

the ring than in the lower parts. They also stated trunk

circumference was higher in the upper part in the ringing

treatments.

Johnson (1998) reported that photosynthates produced

in the leaves are partially and completely stopped from

reaching the roots by girdling. Hossain et al. (2004) found

that N and Ca were higher in partially ringed trees than

control. Johnson (1998) reported that 50% or more of

the stem circumference made girdling the plant would

probably die or hang on in a pretty unhealthy and ugly

state for a while. Arakawa et al. (1997) reported that 90%

girdling in apple trees might reduce growth. Our result

shows that peach tree can be dwarfed by applying 97-99%

girdling.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has shown that it is possible to make peach

tree dwarfed from vigorous rootstock by applying bark

ringing. The techniques include a new effect of 97%-99%

(2 mm bark strip in Experiment I and 5 mm bark strip

in Experiment II) bark ringing: the plant can survive in

addtion to being dwarfed effectively. Some researchers

have applied 50% and 90% ringing in other trees and

varieties, and those plants have survived and been

dwarfed. Some differences were highlighted, including

bark ringing in peach trees (var. ‘Hikawahakuho’)

maintained mid cut once with razor blade shock and cut

fortnightly than bark ringing maintained cut once what

usually done as girdling. In our result, we found that

partial ringing (mid cut once) and partial ringing (cut

fortnightly) were more effective than partial ringing (cut

once) and control (un-ringed) in reducing tree size. No

significant difference in fruit quality emerged. In addition,

the spraying of growth inhibitors as a dwarfing component

may cause environmental pollution. By contrast, bark

ringing reduces the cost of tree spray and labor. That is

why fruit tree growers can use this dwarfing technique

easily to control tree sizing.

Acknowledgements. The authors are grateful to the

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and

Technology, Japan for providing funds for this research.

LITERATURE CITED

Arakawa, O., K. Kanno, A. Kanetsuka, and Y. Shiozaki. 1997.

Effect of girdling and bark inversion on tree growth and

fruit quality of apple. Proc. 6. Int. S ymp. on Integrating

Canopy. Acta Hort. 451: 579-586.

De Jong, T.M., A. Weibel, W. Tsuji, J.F. Doyle, R.S. Johnson,

and D. Ramming. 2001. Evaluation of size controlling

rootstocks for California peach production. Acta Hort. 557:

103-110.

E l fv in g, D.C ., E. C. L oug he e d, a nd R. A. C l in e. 19 91 .

Daminozide root pruning, trunk scoring and trunk ringing

effects on fruit ripening and storage behavior of McIntosh

apple. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 116: 195-200.

Greene, D.W. and W.J. Lord. 1983. Effect of dormant pruning,

summer pruning, scoring and growth regulators on growth,

yield and fruit quality of Delicious and Cortland apple

trees. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 108: 590-595.

Hossain, A.B.M.S., F. Mizutani, and J.M. Onguso. 2004. Effect

of partial and complete ringing on carbohydrates, mineral

content and distribution pattern

13

C-photoas similates in

young peach trees. Asian J. Pl. Sci. 3: 498-507.

J ohns on, G. 1998. P lant health care update. A Newslet ter.

Minnesota University, Extension Service, Glenwood Ave.,

Minneapolis, pp. 1.

Jose, A. 1997. Effect of girdling treatments on flowering and

production of mango. Acta Hort. 455: 132-134.

Onguso, J.M., F. Mizutani, and A.B.M.S. Hossain. 2004. Effects

of partial ringing and heating of trunk on shoot growth

and fruit quality of peach trees. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 45:

301-306.

Plaut, Z. and L. Reinhold. 1967. The effect of water stress on the

movement of

14

C-sucrose tritiated water within the supply

of leaves of young bean plants. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 20:

297-307.

Schneider, H. 1954. Effect of trunk girdling on phloem of trunk

of sweet orange trees on sour orange rootstocks. Hilgardia

22: 593-601.

Sitton, B.G. 1949. The effect of different methods of girdling

bearing and defruited tung branches. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort.

Sci. 53: 119-124.

Tukey, H.B. 1978. Tree structure, P hysiology and Dwarfing.

Dwarf Fruit Trees, pp. 95.

SHARIF HOSSAIN et al. — Dwarfing peach trees by maintaining partially ringed bark strips

257

一種新的果樹矮化過程：維持部份環割以矮化桃樹達到果實

品½之掌控

A.B.M. SHARIF HOSSAIN, Fusao MIZUTANI, Justus M. ONGUSO, and Ali

Ramadan EL-SHEREIF

The Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University

Hattanji 498, Matsuyama, Ehime-799-2424, Japan

　　本實驗之目的在於研究部份環割（樹皮部份）對桃子大小的影響。桃 (Prunus persica Batsch 品種

為 ‘Hikawahakuho’) 為供試材料。部份環割在樹皮上切開 4 公分長留 2 公厘（實驗 1）或 5 公厘寬之連

接帶（實驗 2）。在這些實驗裡，不同之處理含：不環割（對照組），以刀片中割一次（4 公分× 5 公

厘環），或以刀片連續中割（實驗 1）；在實驗 2 則為環割一次（4 公分× 5 公厘環）或每二星期割一

次。經部份環割之桃樹其莖之生長較對照組為低。樹皮之生長和莖相同。經部份環割之桃樹其花芽，

不½是割一次或每兩星期割一次者，比對照組多。再者，樹幹之圓周長在上環比下環粗。經環割之桃

樹其可溶性固形物含量比對照組高。結果顯示 97~98% 之部份環割技術可用來減小桃樹之體積。

關鍵詞：部份環割；矮化之桃樹；果實品種。