FRUIT-BEARING POTENTIAL MODELING OF THE FLORICANE RASPBERRY CV. WILLAMETTE

During the 3-year period (2014-2016) modeling of the fruit-bearing potential of the cultivar. Willamette was conducted with the aim of defining the optimal load of the mixed buds per meter of the hedgerow. Modeling was conducted by a reduction in the fruit-bearing potential of 160 mixed buds, corresponding to a load of canes in the ordinary production practice. The fruit-bearing potential was reduced to 120 (medium potential) and 90 buds (low potential). Lower intensity reduction in a number of mixed buds per meter of hedgerow and selection of quality buds enables an increase in yield for 31.7%. Reduction in a number of mixed buds for about 50% in comparison to ordinary production practice led to a 14.6% decrease in total yield during the three-year period The increase in the number of buds per meter of hedgerow to a certain number may affect the increase and continuity of the yield. An increase in fruit-bearing potential outside of the range of the optimum determined by this research (120 mixed buds) may prove counterproductive and lead to a decrease in yield.