Method for rapidly replacing varieties in spring multi-head high grafting peach orchard

Abstract

This invention discloses a method for rapid variety replacement in peach orchards through multi-head top grafting in spring, belonging to the field of fruit tree cultivation technology. It solves the problems of soil replanting obstacles, significant yield loss during the replacement period, and waste of young and vigorous tree resources during peach orchard variety renewal. Selecting 3-5 year old young and vigorous peach trees as rootstock, a multi-head top grafting method is used in spring, grafting 15-30 new variety scions onto multiple main branches of each tree, strategically retaining approximately 20% of the original fruiting branches. After top grafting, rootstock suckers must be removed promptly, and the new shoots should be pinched back when they reach 30-40 cm in length. This method avoids replanting obstacles by utilizing the existing robust tree structure, and by retaining some fruiting branches, it allows for approximately 22.7% of the original variety's yield in the year of top grafting, avoiding crop failure. In the second year after grafting, the yield of the new variety can approach or reach the original tree's yield level, achieving rapid renewal, yield in the same year, and high yield in the following year, with renewal costs only 15% of the traditional method of uprooting and replanting.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fruit tree cultivation technology, specifically to a method for spring grafting and variety replacement of peach orchards in multiple locations in Mengyin area. Background Technology

[0002] In traditional peach-producing areas such as Mengyin County, Shandong Province, fruit growers face two main technical challenges when replacing aging varieties with those that are losing market competitiveness. First, the traditional method of uprooting old trees and replanting new seedlings can lead to severe replanting problems due to accumulated pathogens, nematodes, and autotoxins in the soil. This results in poor growth and increased disease in the newly planted trees, and the costs of purchasing new seedlings, preparing the land, and nurturing young trees are high, placing a heavy economic burden on farmers. Second, while conventional top grafting can utilize the existing root system to avoid replanting problems, it usually requires removing the entire original canopy. This prevents the new shoots sprouting from the grafted scion from bearing fruit, causing a sharp reduction in yield or even crop failure that year, creating a significant economic gap that fruit growers find unacceptable.

[0003] Current technologies lack efficient and low-cost solutions for variety renewal of 3-5 year old, vigorous peach trees in their peak production period. These trees are robust with well-developed root systems, making them ideal rootstocks for top grafting. However, uprooting and replanting these trees results in significant resource waste. Existing top grafting techniques are mostly designed for the rehabilitation of older, weaker trees, failing to realize their potential for rapid canopy recovery and shortened renewal cycles. Uprooting and replanting not only wastes existing root systems but also increases costs associated with land preparation, seedling purchases, and initial care, making it economically unsustainable.

[0004] The impact of different grafting times on yield is unclear. Existing data lacks specific comparisons of the technical effects of spring and summer grafting, particularly regarding whether "increasing pruning combined with summer budding" can maintain the current year's yield. This lack of systematic research makes it difficult for fruit growers to choose the optimal renewal time in practice, often leading to blindly following trends and resulting in yield losses or renewal failures. The lack of systematic plans regarding grafting time, pruning intensity, and post-grafting management results in significant overall profit losses during the renewal cycle. Fruit growers often lack clear technical guidance in practice, making it difficult to balance avoiding continuous cropping with maintaining current yields.

[0005] Therefore, for young and mature peach orchards, there is an urgent need for a variety renewal method that can overcome soil replanting obstacles, minimize the yield gap, and quickly restore tree canopy and yield. This invention aims to provide a spring multi-head grafting technique to solve the problems of large yield losses during the renewal period, high risk of replanting difficulties, and underutilization of young and mature tree resources in the aforementioned background techniques. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention aims to provide a method for spring multi-head top grafting of 3-5 year old young and vigorous peach trees in Mengyin area to replace peach varieties. Its technical objective is to simultaneously solve three core problems existing in traditional variety renewal methods: Firstly, by retaining and utilizing the original robust trees as rootstock for grafting, it fundamentally avoids the soil replanting obstacles caused by uprooting old trees and replanting. Secondly, by implementing spring multi-head top grafting and strategically retaining approximately 20% of the original fruiting branches, a portion of the original variety's fruit yield can be obtained in the grafting year, significantly reducing or even eliminating the economic gap during variety renewal, achieving "renewal and fruiting simultaneously." Thirdly, through this grafting method and supporting post-grafting management (such as pinching), it fully utilizes the vigorous growth of young and vigorous peach trees, enabling rapid recovery of the canopy and yield, achieving a yield of the new variety approaching or reaching the original tree's peak fruiting level in the second year after grafting. This results in a comprehensive effect of efficient, low-cost, and low-risk peach orchard variety renewal.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives of this invention, the following technical solution is adopted: In a first aspect, this invention provides a method for top-grafting and variety replacement of peach orchards in multiple locations during spring in Mengyin area. The method targets 3-5 year old young and vigorous peach trees, and includes the following steps: S1. Select peach trees that are 3-5 years old, vigorous, and free from serious pests and diseases as rootstock to avoid the problem of replanting old trees directly. S2. In spring, perform multi-head high grafting on multiple main branches of peach trees, introduce scions of the target new variety, and graft 15-30 scion points on each tree. S3. When grafting top, prune the original crown to open up the light path, but retain about 20% of the original fruiting branches; S4. After top grafting, post-grafting management includes removing rootstock suckers, pinching new shoots, fertilization and watering, and pest and disease control.

[0008] Preferably, the spring grafting is performed in April.

[0009] Preferably, in step S2, the grafting method is either branch grafting or bud grafting.

[0010] Preferably, in step S4, the specific operation of pinching the new shoot is as follows: pinching is performed when the new shoots sprouting from the scion grow to 30-40cm.

[0011] Preferably, step S4 further includes: after the harvest of the original variety of fruit in the current season, the original fruiting branches that are retained are thinned out in winter.

[0012] Preferably, the method is used to replace the variety "Zhongtao Jinkui" with "Zijinzaoyoupan".

[0013] Preferably, by retaining some of the original fruiting branches in step S3, the yield of the original variety of fruit produced by the retained original fruiting branches can be obtained in the same year as the top grafting operation.

[0014] Preferably, the yield recovery rate of the original variety in the year of the grafting operation reaches 22.7%.

[0015] Secondly, this invention provides a method for variety renewal in peach orchards, which employs the aforementioned spring multi-head top grafting method for replacing peach varieties, avoiding soil replanting obstacles caused by uprooting old trees. After applying this method, in the second year after top grafting, the yield of the target new variety in the peach orchard recovers to more than 95% of the yield of the original variety during its peak fruiting period before top grafting.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention achieves the following technical effects: This invention successfully achieves the goal of "renewal and production in the same year" by strategically retaining approximately 20% of the original fruiting branches during spring top grafting. Field experiment data shows that peach orchards using this method can still obtain fruit from the retained branches in the same year as the top grafting operation, thus significantly mitigating the impact of variety renewal on fruit growers' economic income and avoiding crop failure.

[0017] This invention offers significant advantages in terms of long-term yield recovery speed, avoidance of continuous cropping, and economic efficiency. Experimental results show that in the first year after top grafting, the average yield of the new variety "Zijin Zaoyoupan" quickly recovered to 72.28% of the control orchard (1130.28 kg / mu); by the second year, the average yield reached 1574.94 kg / mu, with a yield recovery rate as high as 99%, showing no statistically significant difference from the unrenewed control orchard, achieving rapid and complete yield recovery. This method, by preserving and utilizing existing robust trees as rootstock, fundamentally avoids soil replanting obstacles caused by tree uprooting, eliminating the need for costly soil fumigation or crop rotation treatments. Economically, the estimated renewal cost of this invention is only 1200 yuan / mu, far lower than the 8000 yuan / mu required for uprooting and replanting, and it has the shortest period of income downturn, resulting in outstanding overall economic benefits. Attached Figure Description

[0018] For ease of explanation, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0019] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the multi-position grafted tree structure of the present invention. In the diagram: 1 is the original tree trunk, which is preserved intact and connected to the underground root system; the upper part of the trunk is the original tree main branch (rootstock branch), 2 is the first main branch, and 3 is the second main branch, which are distributed in different directions on the trunk; on the lateral part of each main branch, a new variety scion (labeled 4a, 4b...4z, a total of 26) is connected by grafting, and the red dots indicate the grafting positions; some main branches also retain the original variety fruiting branches (labeled 5a, 5b...5f, a total of 6). Detailed Implementation

[0020] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, in conjunction with the appendix. Figure 1 The technical solutions of the present invention will be further described below, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments; in the following description, specific details such as specific configurations are provided only to help to fully understand the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[0021] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this invention can be combined with each other.

[0022] Unless otherwise specified, the materials, practices, and experimental equipment involved in the embodiments of this invention are all commercially available products in the relevant chemical and biotechnology fields.

[0023] Mengyin County, a major peach-producing area in Shandong Province, has a long history of peach cultivation. However, some peach varieties are aging, the marketability of the fruit is declining, and market competitiveness is weakening. Furthermore, to quickly introduce new, more profitable varieties and increase farmers' income, variety renewal is urgently needed. Traditional methods of uprooting and replanting trees are not only time-consuming and costly, but also prone to causing severe soil replanting problems, leading to poor growth of newly planted trees and slow yield recovery. While conventional spring grafting can utilize the advantages of existing rootstocks, it usually requires the removal of all original fruiting branches, resulting in almost no yield in the grafting year and leaving farmers with a 1-2 year income gap, posing a significant economic risk. How to achieve rapid variety renewal while maximizing the preservation of the current year's yield and shortening the period of income loss has become a key technical bottleneck for variety replacement in peach-producing areas. Therefore, this study takes a typical young and middle-aged peach orchard in Mengyin County as the research object. In response to the production needs of replacing "Zhongtao Jinkui" with "Zijin Zaoyoupan", an innovative spring high grafting method that retains some fruiting branches is proposed. By systematically comparing the yield recovery dynamics, cost input, and adaptability to continuous cropping of this method with traditional spring high grafting of main branches, tree uprooting and replanting, and non-grafting control, the aim is to clarify the comprehensive advantages of this technology in maintaining yield in the same year, rapidly restoring yield, and reducing renewal costs. This will provide a theoretical basis and technical support for low-risk and high-efficiency variety renewal in peach orchards in Mengyin and similar ecological zones.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, 1 represents the original tree trunk, which is intact and connected to the underground root system; the upper part of the trunk consists of the original tree's main branches (rootstock branches), 2 is the first main branch, and 3 is the second main branch, distributed in different directions on the trunk; on the lateral part of each main branch, new variety scions (numbered 4a, 4b...4z, a total of 26) are connected by grafting, with the red dots indicating the grafting positions. The scions and main branches form a healed vascular bundle connection, ensuring the transport of water and nutrients. The scions sprout to form new shoots of the new variety, on which leaves and buds grow; some main branches also retain the original variety's fruiting branches (numbered 5a, 5b...5f, a total of 6). These fruiting branches are naturally connected to the main branches and can bear fruit in the same year.

[0026] Example 2

[0027] 1. Materials and Methods 1.1 Test Location and Time Experimental location: Manzi Village, Taoxu Town, Mengyin County, Shandong Province, a typical peach-producing area. Experimental orchards with similar soil types, fertility, and irrigation conditions were selected.

[0028] Time: High grafting operation will be carried out in the spring of 2023 (April), and continuous observation will continue until the end of harvest in 2025.

[0029] 1.2 Test Materials Rootstock: 3-5 year old young and vigorous peach trees, the original variety is "Zhongtao Jinkui", the trees are vigorous and free from serious diseases and pests, the spacing between trees is 3m×4m, and 55 trees are planted per mu.

[0030] Scion: Early-maturing peach variety "Zijin Zaoyoupan" (high yield in recent years, suitable for shady climate, matures in mid-June), collected from a disease-free scion orchard, with plump buds.

[0031] Comparison varieties: the original variety "Zhongtao Jinkui" was preserved in the garden (without top grafting), the tree was dug up and replanted in the garden (newly planted "Zijin Zaoyoupan"), and the autumn grafting garden ("Zijin Zaoyoupan" was grafted onto the same rootstock).

[0032] 1.3 Experimental Design A completely randomized block design was used, with three replicates for each treatment (i.e., three experimental sites, with each treatment randomly arranged within each site). Each replicate (plot) was at least 3 mu (approximately 180 peach trees). The treatments are shown in Table 1 below: Table 1

[0033] 1.4 Yield Measurement Method Tree yield: 10 standard trees were randomly marked in each plot. All fruits were harvested and weighed when ripe (electronic scale, accuracy 0.1kg), and the average value was taken.

[0034] Yield per mu = yield per plant × number of plants per mu (55 plants / mu).

[0035] Yield recovery rate (%) = (Yield of the current year ÷ Yield per mu of CK orchards not grafted during the same period) × 100%.

[0036] Measurement time: the year of grafting (2023, fruit yield of the original variety with only fruiting branches retained), the first year after grafting (2024, yield of the new variety "Zijin Zaoyoupan"), and the second year after grafting (2025, yield of the new variety "Zijin Zaoyoupan").

[0037] 1.5 Data Statistical Analysis One-way ANOVA was performed using SPSS 22.0. Differences between treatments were analyzed using Tukey HSD multiple comparisons (P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). All data are expressed as mean.

[0038] 2. Results and Analysis 2.1 Comparison of peach orchard yields after different top grafting treatments In the three experimental areas, the T1 treatment of this invention resulted in a stable yield of 285-390 kg / mu for the original variety in the same year, with an average recovery rate of 22.7%, significantly lower than the control (P<0.05). However, the spring-grafted T2 treatment, due to the removal of all original fruiting branches, resulted in almost no yield in the same year (only a small number of scions sprouted but did not produce any yield). The T3 treatment, involving uprooting and replanting, also resulted in no yield in the same year. In the three experimental areas, the new variety failed to produce any fruit in the same year under the T1, T2, and T3 treatments.

[0039] Table 2. Comparison of yields in the year following grafting (2023) (Original variety "Zhongtao Jinkui")

[0040] Note: Different letters indicate significant differences (P<0.05) between treatments in the same column (same experimental site). The same applies to the following table.

[0041] In the first year, the yield per acre of T1 treatment reached 59.49% of that of CK (non-grafted original variety) (average 930.28 kg), significantly higher than that of T2 (343.72 kg). The seedlings in the T3 replanted orchard were still in the sapling stage and had not yet produced fruit.

[0042] Table 3. Yield Comparison in the First Year After Topgrafting (2024) (New Variety "Zijin Zaoyoupan")

[0043] In the second year, the average yield of the T1 treatment reached 1437 kg / mu, recovering to 92.0% of the CK (the original variety at its peak fruiting period without grafting), and there was no significant difference from the CK (P>0.05). The yield of the spring grafting T2 was only 69.3% of the CK, and the yield of the uprooted and replanted T3 only recovered to 27.3% of the CK (because the newly planted trees had just entered the initial fruiting period in the second year).

[0044] Table 4. Yield Comparison in the Second Year After Topgrafting (2025) (New Variety "Zijin Zaoyoupan")

[0045] In summary, the T1 treatment of this invention, by retaining 20% ​​of the original fruiting branches in the year of top grafting (2023), achieved an average yield of 336.84 kg / mu in the three experimental areas (285.22 kg / mu in area A, 335.08 kg / mu in area B, and 390.21 kg / mu in area C), with an average yield recovery rate of 22.70%. This was significantly higher than T2 (0 kg / mu) which removed all fruiting branches and T3 (0 kg / mu) which involved uprooting and replanting trees, thus preserving basic economic benefits in the year of variety renewal. In the first year after top grafting (2024), the average yield of the new variety treated with T1 reached 1130.28 kg / mu, with the recovery rate increasing to 72.28%, significantly better than T2 (343.72 kg / mu, recovery rate 21.98%) and T3 (0 kg / mu). In the second year after grafting (2025), the average yield of the T1 treatment reached 1574.94 kg / mu, with a yield recovery rate of 99.00%, which was not significantly different from the CK (1590.84 kg) (P>0.05), basically recovering to the yield level of the peak fruiting period; while the T2 and T3 treatments only recovered to 56.61% and 27.22% respectively in the second year.

[0046] 2.2 Summary of Yield Recovery Effects of the T1 Treatment of the Present Invention in Different Experimental Zones The T1 treatment of this invention showed stable yield recovery ability in soils with different levels of continuous cropping. In the three experimental areas (A severe, B moderate, and C slight), the yield recovery rates of the original varieties in the first year were 20.08%, 22.64%, and 25.17%, respectively. The recovery rate of the new varieties in the first year was about 72%, and the recovery rates in the second year were 99.90%, 101.73%, and 95.31%, respectively. This indicates that the method has a strong adaptability to continuous cropping obstacles and can achieve the renewal effect of maintaining yield in the first year and fully restoring yield in the second year, even under severe continuous cropping conditions.

[0047] Table 5. Yield recovery of T1 treatment in different experimental areas

[0048] 2.3 Comparison of core indicators between the present invention and existing technologies Compared with existing technologies, this invention avoids the problem of continuous cropping while retaining 22.70% of the original variety yield (336.84 kg / mu) in the year of top grafting, thus avoiding crop failure. In the second year after top grafting, the yield of the new variety reaches 1574.94 kg / mu, with a recovery rate of 99.00%, which is basically the same as the non-top-grafted control and significantly better than spring grafting (56.61%) and replanting (27.22%). Moreover, the renewal cost is only 15% of that of replanting (1200 yuan / mu), and the income gap period is shortened to 0 years, resulting in outstanding comprehensive economic advantages.

[0049] Table 6. Comparison of indicators between spring multi-head high grafting (this invention) and other methods

[0050] 3. Conclusion The "method for spring multi-head top grafting to renew peach orchards in Mengyin area" described in this invention has shown stable and excellent results at three test sites: In the year of top grafting, by retaining 20% ​​of the original fruiting branches, the average yield per mu reached 336.84 kg, with a yield recovery rate of 22.70%. Although this was significantly lower than the ungrafted control (P<0.05), it was significantly better than spring grafting (0 kg) and tree uprooting and replanting (0 kg) after removing all fruiting branches. It preserved basic economic benefits in the year of variety renewal, achieving renewal and income in the same year and avoiding crop failure.

[0051] In the first year after top grafting, the average yield of the new variety "Zijin Zaoyoupan" reached 1130.28 kg per mu, with a recovery rate of 72.28%, which was significantly better than spring grafting (343.72 kg, recovery rate of 21.98%) and replanting (0 kg). In the second year after top grafting, the average yield reached 1574.94 kg per mu, with a recovery rate of 99.00%, and there was no significant difference from the non-top-grafted control (P>0.05), basically recovering to the yield level of the peak fruiting period.

[0052] This method completely avoids the problem of continuous cropping, requires no soil treatment, and has a renewal cost of only 1,200 yuan per mu, which is 15% of the cost of uprooting and replanting trees (8,000 yuan per mu). It also provides income from the original variety in the same year, with the shortest income gap period.

[0053] The technology showed stability under different continuous cropping soil conditions, with yield recovery rates of 99.90%, 101.73% and 95.31% in the second year, respectively. It is suitable for rapid variety renewal in young and middle-aged peach orchards in Mengyin and similar peach-producing areas.

[0054] Those skilled in the art to which this application pertains may modify or supplement the specific embodiments described or use similar methods to replace them, but without departing from the inventive concept of this application or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for rapidly changing peach varieties in a spring through multi-head grafting, characterized in that... For 3-5 year old young and vigorous peach trees, top grafting is performed in spring, and includes the following steps: S1. Select peach trees that are 3-5 years old, vigorous, and free from serious pests and diseases as rootstock; S2. In spring, perform multi-head high grafting on multiple main branches of peach trees, introduce scions of the target new variety, and graft 15-30 scion points on each tree. S3. When top grafting, prune the original crown, but retain 20% of the original fruiting branches; S4. After top grafting, post-grafting management includes removing rootstock suckers, pinching new shoots, fertilization and watering, and pest and disease control.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spring grafting season is scheduled for April.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S2, the grafting method is either branch grafting or bud grafting.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S4, the specific operation of pinching the new shoot is as follows: pinching is performed when the new shoots sprouting from the scion grow to 30-40cm.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S4 also includes: after the harvest of the original variety of fruit in the current season, removing the original fruiting branches that are retained in winter.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method is used to replace the variety "Zhongtao Jinkui" with "Zijinzaoyoupan".

7. A method for variety renewal in a peach orchard, characterized in that, It adopts the spring multi-head grafting method for replacing peach varieties as described in any one of claims 1-6, avoiding soil replanting obstacles caused by uprooting old trees.

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