This document discusses different tree training systems used in horticulture: - Central leader system trains trees to have a single, unbranched trunk extending from the ground to the top. - Open centre system prunes the leader stem to encourage lower scaffold branches and a vase shape. - Modified leader is intermediate, initially training to a leader then pruning to encourage lateral branching. It also describes special training practices like the bower, espalier, and kniffin systems used for grapes and other vines.

1. LEC 8. PRINCIPLES AND
METHODS OF TRAINING IN
HORTICULTURAL CROPS

3. Trunk: The main stem of the plant.
Head: The point on the trunk from which first branches arise.
Scaffold branches: The main branches arising from the head are known
as scaffold branches.
Trees in which scaffold branches arise with in 60-70cm height from the
ground level are called low head trees and those in which they come
out from the trunk above 120cm are called high head trees.
Crotch: The angle made by the scaffold limb to the trunk or the
secondary branch to the scaffold limb is called crotch.
Leader: The main stem growing from ground level up to the tip
dominating all other branches is called leader.
Water shoot: A vigorous growing unbranched shoot arising on any
branch or leader is called water shoot.
Water sucker: The growth appearing on rootstock portion is called
water sucker.

8. Central Leader
• In this system a tree is trained to form a trunk which extends from the
surface of the soil to the top of the tree. This system of training is also
known as closed centered one.

9. Open Centre
• In this system the main stem is allowed to grow only upto a certain
height and the leader stem is pruned to encourage scaffold branches
production. This system is also known as Vase- shapedsystem.

10. • It is intermediate between the open centre and central leader.
• This is developed by first training the trees to the leader type by
allowing the central axis to grow unhampered for the first four or five
years.
• The central stem is then headed back and lateral branches are
allowed to grow as in the open centre system.
Modified Leader

12. Special training practices

13. Bower system
• It is also called as ‘Pandal’ or ‘Arbour’ or ‘Pergola’ system.
• It is generally practiced in grapes and other cucurbitaceous vegetables like
snake gourd, ribbed gourd, bitter gourd etc.
• In this system, the vines are spread over a criss cross net work of wires,
usually at 2.1 to 2.4m above ground, supported by concrete or stone pillars
or live support.
• The vine is allowed to grow single shoot till it reaches the wire net and is
usually supported by bamboo sticks tied with jute thread.
• When the vine reaches the wires, its growing point is pinched off to facilitate
the production of side shoots.

15. Espalier system
• Plants are trained to grow flat on trellis or on horizontal wires by training the
branches perpendicularly to the main stem on both the sides, and trained
horizontally on the wires.
• Plants trained in this systems are called ‘espaliers’. An espalier with one shoot or
two shoots growing in opposite or parallel directions are called a ‘cordon’.

17. Kniffin system
• In this system, two trellis of wire are strongly supported by vertical
posts. The vines such as grape when trained in this system has four
canes one along each wire and the bearing shoot hangs freely with no
tying being necessary.