This study was carried out at the experimental orchard, Faculty of Agriculture, AssiutUniversity, on Manfalouty pomegranate trees, during 2004 to 2007 seasons.
The main objective of this research was to study the effect of removing suckers and/or water-sprouts (suckering) throughout the year [every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 months (the untreated control)] on sucker's growth, watersprouts, yield and fruit quality. The results could be summarized as follows:
There was a negative relationship between suckering frequency and total fresh weight of suckers or watersprouts. Average weight of single sucker or watersprout also exhibited the same relationship. This relationship was positive with number of the accumulated weight of removed suckers and/or watersprout per tree.
Suckering monthly or bimonthly resulted in significant decrease in total fresh weight of suckers and or watersprouts. These reductions were expressed as 85.30 and 70.71%, respectively, compared to the untreated control (4026.46 g). It also significantly increased upper shoots length, number of leaves per shoot and leaf area as well as the carbohydrate/ nitrogen (C/N) ratio. Additionally, it induced significant increase in fruit set, fruit yield/tree and enhanced commercial yield percentage/tree, compared to the untreated control. Moreover, comprehensive suckering not only decreased significantly fruit splitting, but also increased fruit weight as well as grain weight percentage, total soluble solids (TSS) contents, TSS/acid ratio and reducing sugars percentage.
Conclusion and findings revealed that comprehensive suckering monthly or bimonthly is highly recommended for Manfalouty pomegranate tree vigour with high yield of fruits characterized by excellent qualities.