Plum (Prunus domestica)

Introduction:

Plum is believed to be originated from: China

Wild plum is found in mid hill region of Nepal.

 High chilling cultivar of plum distributed in higher hills of the karnali and Dhaulagiri zones.

Uses:

• Dessert purpose
• Canning
• Jam, jelly and wine making
• Refreshing juice is also prepared

Botany:

• Family: rosaceae
• Sub family: prunoideae
• Fruit: drupe

 

Species and cultivars

European Plum (Prunus domesticus)

• Origin: North America
• Vigorous tree i.e. tree height is 8-10 m
• Twigs and under surface of leaves are covered with small hairs
• Fruit shape round
• Cultivated at higher elevation (13oo-2000m)
• High chilling requirement (1000-1200 hrs)
• Fruits born in spurs

Japanese Plum (Prunus salicinia)

• Origin: china
• Tree height is small
• Hair are absent (glabrous)
• Heart shaped fruit
• Cultivated at lower heights (1000-1600m)
• Low chilling requirement (700-1000hrs)
• Fruits born in spurs and 1year old shoots

Cultivation Techniques:

Climate:

• Need humid climate with cold winter and warm summer
• European plum needs more than 1000 hrs of chilling where Japanese needs 400 hrs
• Frost free spring are more suitable for plum cultivation
• Annual rainfall of 600mm is adequate

Soil:

• Grow in wide range of soils but deep fertile and well drained clay loam soil
• Ph 5.5-6.5

Propagation & Rootstock:

Propagation:

• Cleft grafting
• Tongue grafting: February
• Shield budding: April- May
• Chip budding: February
• Some plum varieties are propagated by hard wood cutting (100 ppm IBA)

Rootstock:

• Seedling root stocks: seedlings of peach, plum, wild apricot are used for root stock purpose
• For heavy soil root stock of apricot and plum is suitable
• Kabul green cage root stock is suitable for planting in heavy and wet soils
• Myrobalan B Plum (prunus cerasifera) is widely used for root stock purpose which is compatible with Japanese plum cultivars.

Planting:

• One-year old grafted plum is transplanted in main field during dormant season
• European plums: 2 years old are ready for transplanting.
• Planting distance:5-6m

Manuring:

Age of Trees	FYM (kg)	Nitrogen(kg)	P2O5 (kg)	K2O (kg)
1	10	70	35	100
2	15	140	70	200

Calculate the required fertilizer amount here.

Training & Pruning:

• Japanese pear: open Centre/vase system
• European pear: modified Centre leader system

Harvesting & Yield:

• For local market fruit is harvest at full maturity stage
• For distant markets fruit is harvest at advance of proper maturity
• Yield: 60-70 kg/tree/year

Insects & Pests:

• San Jose scale
• Plum fruit moth:
• Larvae bore into developing fruit, ultimately fruit drop and rot
• Spray malathion for control (1ml/lit of water)
• Defoliating beetle:
• Serious pest of peach attack during rainy season
• It is nocturnal in habit
• Can be controlled by using light trap.

Diseases:

• Shot holes (stigmina carpohila)
• Fungal disease
• Dark brown spots appear on leaves
• Abscission of diseased area results in short holes
• Spray captan (0.2%) for spray before leaf fall