Spring and summer pruning in Apricot and Peach orchards

Spring and summer pruning are based on the possibility to manipulate the physiological control of axillary sylleptic growth and carbon allocation in the shoot through alteration of the apical dominance and light distribution in the canopy. The practical result in modern orchards is a higher flower bud differentiation for apricot and an easier training system maintenance for peach with more efficient use of labor. Cultivated apricot varieties show diverse tree architectures, habit and fruiting branches. The effect of pruning intensity at different times during spring and summer seasons is specific for the singular growth habits. Differences among the peach varieties are less evident than in the apricot. The ease with which peach water sprouts produce axillary sylleptic shoots makes the use of mechanical topping possible in the first two years of intense growth in order to train the tree as a bush and then to open it as a vase with manual pruning (Catalonian open vase). In all modern peach orchards, pruning in late summer results very useful to obtain a better light distribution in the canopy and a more efficient carbon allocation to fruiting shoots, preventing and reducing the need for winter pruning

Pain perception in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies

While hyperalgesia (increased pain sensitivity) has been suggested to contribute to the increased prevalence of clinical pain in Parkinson’s disease (PD), experimental research is equivocal and mechanisms are poorly understood. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing PD patients to healthy controls (HCs) in their response to experimental pain stimuli. Articles were acquired through systematic searches of major databases from inception until 10/2016. Twenty-six studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 1292 participants (PD = 739, HCs = 553). Random effects meta-analysis of standardized mean differences (SMD) revealed lower pain threshold (indicating hyperalgesia) in PD patients during unmedicated OFF states (SMD = 0.51) which was attenuated during dopamine-medicated ON states (SMD = 0.23), but unaffected by age, PD duration or PD severity. Analysis of 6 studies employing suprathreshold stimulation paradigms indicated greater pain in PD patients, just failing to reach significance (SMD = 0.30, p= = 0.06). These findings (a) support the existence of hyperalgesia in PD, which could contribute to the onset/intensity of clinical pain, and (b) implicate dopamine deficiency as a potential underlying mechanism, which may present opportunities for the development of novel analgesic strategies

Efficient DOA estimation by a specific SVD algorithm

In this paper an alternative algorithm for the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) of the data matrix used for Direction-Of-Arrival (DOA) estimation is presented. The proposed algorithm transforms the data matrix into a bi-diagonal form by a procedure based on fast Givens rotations. This procedure is specifically tailored for DOA estimation and allows a certain computational saving with respect to the well known Golub-Kahan algorithm

Tree growth and fruit quality of “Fortune” plum grafted on 17 different rootstocks: results for 10 years after replant.

‘Fortune’ plum trees were grafted in 2005 on 17 different rootstocks at 4.3×2.0 m and trained as free central axis. The first four years of growth and production were reported in the previous ISHS meeting in California. Hereafter the authors report the last three years of full production. The experimental layout was randomized blocks with 4 trees rootstock-1 plot-1 and 4 replications. The trial was managed with drip irrigation in replant conditions applying soil organic amendments along the row at planting and in the 5th year. Integrated pest management was applied regularly for all the experimental period. Yield, fruit size, fruit soluble solids content (SSC), and firmness were recorded every year. Tree mortality related to grafting affinity, phytoplasma symptoms (otherwise sensitivity) and pruning weight (representing plant vigor) were also recorded. The high plant vigor was positively related with big fruit size (20% higher) and high firmness while low vigor with high SSC (1° Brix higher) and 3-5 days of anticipated ripening. Mortality was very high with Felinem rootstock (75%), followed by Barrier 1, VVA1, GF677, and Cadaman (30-60%), due to both disaffinity and phytoplasma. The yield in the last three years confirms what was yielded in the first four years and generally was positively related to plant vigor. The optimum plant density to plan the ‘Fortune’ plum replant in relation to the expected vigor of the rootstock, its affinity with the tested cultivar and the required quantity and quality of the fruit has been discussed. Under the tested conditions vigorous rootstocks can be planted at 4×2 m as free central axis with long pruning for the first 3-4 years and then with branch head back, getting high fruit quality. Using intermediate rootstocks, head back can start from the 3rd year to maintain the high fruit quality, in particular fruit size. With low vigor rootstocks, the planting distance can be reduced to 1-1.5 m along the row and branch head back must be practiced from the second year