Changes in the vegetative growth of the low‐chill peach tree in response to reproductive shoot pruning after harvesting

The effect of reproductive shoot pruning (after harvesting) on the vegetative growth of peach trees was studied. After the harvest period, one group of plants was left unpruned; however, a second group of plants was pruned by heading back or thinning out their bearing shoots. Summer pruning improved the rejuvenation of wood and enhanced the growth of basal shoots thus increasing the proportion of shoots that arose on older wood or directly from the scaffold (+15%). Summer pruning was shown to affect branch regrowth, leaf restoration and radial expansion of the trunk; the leaf area removed was completely restored in 80 days by the increase of new branches (+108%) in the remaining shoots; however, the annual expansion of the trunk cross‐sectional area was significantly reduced (−37.4%). Summer pruning also reduced the plant size from −7% to −26% and delayed autumn leaf fall (+10 days).