Study of alternate bearing presents recommendations for citrus growers
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 04:07
in Biology & Nature
Alternate bearing (also called biennial or uneven bearing) is the tendency of fruit trees to produce a heavy crop one year (called 'on-crop') followed by a light crop or no crop the following 'off-crop' year. On-crop trees produce a large number of small fruit of little commercial value, while off-crop trees produce a small number of large fruit - a high proportion of which are culled in packinghouses due to their unattractive, thick rinds. The phenomenon is widespread and can occur in an entire region, in individual trees, part of a tree, or even on one branch...