Fruit trees and vegetative recovery: strategies for a productive orchard
Fruit trees: effective strategies for vegetative recovery and a productive orchard
For fruit trees, vegetative regrowth is a crucial time and a determining factor in the crop's productive success. Indeed, the correct development of the plants depends on the vegetative restart, with important effects on the development of all subsequent physiological phases. For all orchards, coming out of winter dormancy determines the scheduling of all crop activities, from fertilisation to defence treatments, from harvest time to pruning. A good start results in more balanced, healthy plants that are more resistant to stress. Unfortunately, climate change is present and strongly influences the vegetative recovery of fruit trees.
In this article, we will explore the practices and tips for the correct management of this phase for fruit trees, also focusing on crucial aspects such as factors influencing bud opening and the need for hours in the cold.
The vegetative cycle of fruit trees
Knowing the vegetative cycle of fruit trees is essential for optimal orchard management. Each plant goes through different stages during the year, and understanding these stages helps to improve plant care.
The vegetative cycle of fruit trees includes the winter rest period, the vegetative recovery in spring, the flowering phase and the fruit set phase (fruit development). During the winter period, trees enter a state of dormancy to protect themselves mainly from low temperatures. With the arrival of spring, the plants resume their activity with the bud break and sprouting, which for some species also coincides with flowering, a crucial moment for future production.
The vegetative cycle must be carefully monitored: each phase requires specific care, from irrigation to fertilisation. For example, the use of organic nitrogen fertilisers during vegetative growth stimulates leaf and shoot growth, providing the plant with the essential elements for vigorous production.
The Bud Break and Its Importance
Bud break is one of the most delicate and significant moments for fruit trees. This phenomenon typically occurs at the beginning of spring and marks the start of the new vegetative season. Buds can be of two types: flower buds, which give rise to flowers and subsequently fruits, and wood buds, which develop into new branches and leaves.
The timing of bud break depends on several factors, including temperature, the number of daylight hours, and, most importantly, the number of chilling hours the tree was exposed to during winter. Chilling hours are one of the most crucial parameters to monitor, as they directly affect the tree's ability to bloom and bear fruit.
Chilling Hours: What Are They and Why Are They Important?
The chilling requirement, also known as chilling hours, refers to the number of hours during which the temperature remains below 7°C during the winter dormancy period. Fruit trees require a specific number of chilling hours to exit dormancy and begin their vegetative cycle correctly. If the tree does not receive sufficient chilling hours, it may sprout or bloom irregularly, leading to a cascade of negative impacts on all subsequent vegetative stages, ultimately compromising crop productivity.
Each fruit tree species has specific chilling hour requirements, and there are also variations among cultivars of the same species.
But what happens if climate change disrupts the conditions necessary for optimal bud break?
Climate Change's Impact on Fruit Tree Vegetative Cycles
Climate change is a pressing reality of our present and will become even more so in the future. Each year, farmers face economic losses caused by sudden temperature drops and frosts, which significantly damage both the quality and quantity of agricultural yields.
Climate heavily influences the vegetative and productive activities of fruit trees, and environmental stress slows or halts plant metabolism, resulting in a decrease in gross salable production. Thermal stress and temperature fluctuations—now increasingly common across Italy—have a profound agronomic and economic impact on agriculture. Fruit tree crops are finding it increasingly difficult to sprout optimally.
According to the latest IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) assessment report, recent climate changes are already widespread, rapid, and intense, and they are expected to accelerate further in the coming years, reaching levels unseen in thousands of years.
The ideal solution for stress-resistant agriculture: Cynoyl Z Special
Cynoyl Z Special is the flagship product of the Agriges catalog, thanks to its versatility and ability to deliver excellent results across various crops. The unique characteristics of its formulation make Cynoyl Z Special a one-of-a-kind product on the market and an indispensable ally for fruit growers. The formula is the result of years of research and experimentation by the Research and Development department at Agriges. Field trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of Cynoyl Z Special in enhancing the vegetative recovery of fruit trees and helping crops overcome thermal stress (key results follow).
What is Cynoyl Z Special?
Cynoyl Z Special is a natural concentrate of organic molecules based on plant extracts and algal extracts from RyZea technology, particularly rich in betaine, combined with micronized elemental sulfur. The significant innovation of Cynoyl Z Special lies in the synergy between the mineral component and the valuable organic matrices derived from algae and plants.
The organic component of the product provides numerous benefits, such as:
- Nutritional: The plant receives "ready-to-use" compounds (levorotatory amino acids) directly in the bud, boosting vegetative recovery with greater strength and energy compared to traditional nutrition.
- Anti-stress: Rich in antioxidant compounds like betaine, which preserve cellular redox balance.
- Stimulant: Contains hormone-like compounds that activate chlorophyll production, positively impacting photosynthesis.
The mineral component of Cynoyl Z Special provides a highly micronized sulfur with fine particles. This allows sulfur to distribute evenly and sublime—a typical sulfur effect—even at lower temperatures.
The combination of these two components offers a product with strong biostimulant and anti-stress action. It ensures uniform distribution, greater assimilation, and resistance to washing away.
Why Use Cynoyl Z Special for Fruit Tree Vegetative Recovery?
Cynoyl Z Special is the ideal product to apply during the "bud swelling" phenological phase of major fruit crops. During vegetative recovery, Cynoyl Z Special serves a specific purpose: to improve the transition out of winter dormancy and synchronize subsequent phenological stages more effectively.
This is achieved because, during vegetative recovery, the supply of "ready-to-use" and biologically valuable nutrients enhances bud break percentage and ensures greater uniformity in vegetative recovery.
How Cynoyl Z Special works
The sulfur supply induces the plant cell to actively synthesize several compounds, including glutathione, which are directly involved in interrupting dormancy. At the same time, the organic component of Cynoyl Z Special is easily absorbed by the plant and promptly used: the plant reactivates its metabolism and cellular functions, triggering a cascade reaction that leads to vegetative recovery throughout the plant. The supply of "ready-to-use" nutrients allows the plant to have the protein monomers ready to be transported through the vascular system and quickly perform numerous biological functions such as the synthesis of structural proteins, transport proteins, resistance induction proteins (PR proteins), and the regulation of metabolic processes with hormone-like activity.
Additionally, Cynoyl Z Special is rich in betaine, cellular osmolytes that accumulate in growing plant organs during thermal stress, thereby preventing damage or slowing down their development. Scientific research has shown that these molecules can reduce and prevent damage caused by thermal stress.
Effects of Applying Cynoyl Z Special
The main effect of applying Cynoyl Z Special is the uniformity of germination, with advantages and benefits extending to subsequent phenological stages, such as flowering and up to harvest. Indeed, the application of Cynoyl Z Special results in harmonious germination, directly influencing flowering and improving the plant's reproductive development. Applying Cynoyl Z Special during vegetative recovery in tree crops harmonizes and intensifies germination, increases the number of fertile buds, enhancing yield, and supports metabolism in case of stress. The application of Cynoyl Z Special is also possible during the vegetative activity of fruit trees, providing benefits for the production in terms of the organoleptic quality and higher-value yields.
Results on the Vegetative Recovery of Wine Grapes and Table Grapes
For wine grapes, for example, the product helps reduce the percentage of blind buds, which many grapevine varieties are prone to. This is supported by numerous field trial results showing that applying Cynoyl Z Special during vegetative recovery significantly reduces the occurrence of blind buds in certain grapevine varieties.
Results of application on Wine Vine (cv. Corvina) of Cynoyl Z Special (left) versus untreated (right).
Results of application of Cynoyl Z Special (left) versus untreated (right) on Table Grapes
Results on the Vegetative Recovery of Actinidia
Cynoyl Z Special is a product that proves its value not only for grapevine but also for many other crops such as Actinidia and Olive.
In 2020, a trial was conducted on Actinidia deliciosa (cv. Hayward) at the experimental field of the University of Reggio Calabria. The application of Cynoyl Z Special during the swelling and bud break stages (BBCH 03-09) promoted the interruption of dormancy in the buds, increasing the number of fertile shoots.
The increase in fertility observed on the buds treated with Cynoyl Z Special positively affected other physiological and productive parameters of the crop, such as the number of fruits per plant and fruit size. Additionally, in the treated plants, the fruits showed a higher dry matter content, leading to a higher post-harvest quality potential compared to the control.
Results on the Flowering of Olive Trees
Cynoyl Z Special is a highly versatile product, as it can be used on many crops for various purposes. For Olive trees, for example, Cynoyl Z Special improves germination and flowering. The Olive tree is a crop that is very sensitive to adverse weather conditions, particularly during the delicate flowering phase and the crop's productive capacity.
In 2022, a trial was conducted on Olive trees (cv. Frantoio) by the testing center Sele Agroresearch in a highly suitable area of southern Italy, in Salerno. The weather conditions of the year were not favorable, with rain and temperature fluctuations occurring around the time of flowering. However, the application of Cynoyl Z Special was able to improve the flowering percentage and the uniformity of flower opening; indeed, 30 days after the treatment, more than 75% of the flowers were open compared to the control group (where fewer than 50% of flowers opened). Additionally, the treated group with Cynoyl Z Special showed a significant reduction in flower drop (abscission) compared to the control group. Finally, the product supported the crop in achieving a greater and higher-quality yield.
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