Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Fruit Research Station, Bahadurgarh-147 021, India.
Pruning of the ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Kamk) tree is highly desirable practice as fruit is borne in the axils of leaves of young shoots developed during current season. The work carried out by different scientists on effect of severity and time of pruning on vegetative growth, yield and quality of fruits and concluded that pruning in ber should be carried out in the last week of the April to 2nd fortnight of May. The time of the pruning determines the vegetative growth, tree canopy and advances the bud sprouting and induces early flowering and fruiting. Low intensity of pruning improves the fruit yield and quality. Therefore ber should be pruned during summer month after harvest of crop when the trees shed their leaves before onset of the new growth. The early pruning advances bud sprouting and early harvest and improves fruit yield and quality. The deviation in time of pruning from this phase of dormancy results in the lower yield and poor quality fruits. In tropical regions with a mild winter, rainfall during December-January and early onset of summer rainfall (e.g. Tamil Nadu in southern India). Pruning can be carried out any time from January to April and it is also possible to regulate fruit maturity so that bearing occurs at the desired time. In Maharashtra, western India, the best time for pruning is before the end of April.
