Dwarfing peach trees by bark ringing.

Abstract Effects of partial bark ringing and complete ringing on peach ( Prunus persica Batsch cv. ‘Hikawahakuho’) trees grafted on vigorous peach seedling rootstocks (wild form) were studied. Ring of bark 2 cm length was peeled from trunk leaving (or not) a connecting 2 mm bark strip (a bridge) on the trunk. The treatment was done partial ringing once, weekly, fortnightly and monthly. Shoot growth was the weakest in the completely ringed trees and highest in the control ones. Bark growth resembled to shoot growth. Flower bud percent was a little higher when ringing was repeated fortnightly and monthly. Tree circumference was higher above ringing than below complete or partial ringing. Leaf chlorophyll was lower in the partially and complete ringed trees than control trees. Root weight was the lowest in completely ringed trees. The results show, partial ringing (96% bark circumference taken off) can be effectively used to dwarf peach trees as well as to restrict root growth.