Spacing and pruning of purple passion fruit.

Abstract

Row spacing of 1.8 m (wide) was compared with that of 1.2 m (narrow) under 4 pruning regimes: severe, selective, light and no pruning. Narrow spacing outyielded wide spacing over a period of 3 years by 40%. The greater part of the yield was produced during the first cropping year and afterwards there was a marked decline. The yields in kg/plot for 1975, 1976 and 1977, respectively, were: without pruning, 557, 262, 38; light pruning, 377, 304, 101; selective pruning, 438, 312, 101; and severe pruning, 406, 170, 38. Since the vines were given supplementary irrigation, cropping was continuous but the marked seasonal trends were not eliminated by irrigation. Spacing did not influence fruit size and quality, but selective and light pruning gave heavier and juicier fruit than severe and no pruning.