The bud properties of fruit trees refer to the characteristics of buds in the process of formation and germination, and are an important basis for determining the pruning and retraction locations of branches. Generally include the following content

(1) Heterogeneity: buds in different parts of the same branch have very different pruning responses after stubbing due to different qualities. Generally speaking, the buds on the spring shoots are larger and fuller than the buds on the autumn shoots, and the branches will be longer after short cutting. On the spring and autumn shoots, in addition to the large terminal buds, the buds in the middle are the fullest, and the branches will be longer after short cutting. Many long branches. The buds near the base and top of the branches become deflated in turn, and after short cutting, there are many medium and short branches; at the junction of spring and autumn shoots, there are blind nodes composed of blind buds with only bud eyes but no bud bodies, also known as blind nodes. There are wheel marks and it is difficult to sprout branches after short cutting. Therefore, in tree reshaping, when cultivating backbone branches, they are usually shortened at the full buds in the middle of the spring shoots. When cultivating the fruiting branch group, they are mostly shortened at the semi-full buds in the upper or lower middle and the deflated buds at the base (Figure 4 , Figure 18).

(2) Germination power: Germination power is often expressed by germination rate. For varieties with high germination rates, when cultivating fruiting branch groups, short cuts can be made at the middle and upper parts of the branches, as well as at the middle and lower parts, but short cuts at the middle and upper parts have better response. For varieties with low germination rates, the shoots should be cut short in the middle and lower parts of the spring shoots to avoid bare legs (Figure 18③). You can also use the method of re-pruning after budding in spring and before flowering to increase the germination rate (Figure 45②).

(3) Branch-forming ability: The ability to form long branches after short branches are closely related to the cultivation of backbone branches and fruiting branch groups. When the germination rates are the same, the varieties with strong branching ability will bear fruit later in the saplings, but it is easy to cultivate the backbone branches and the crown will form quickly. For varieties with weak branching ability, saplings can easily bloom and bear fruit, but it is difficult to cultivate backbone branches, which often delays the crown forming period. Therefore, different pruning techniques and shaping methods should be used for varieties with different branching abilities.

(4) Early maturity: The buds of peach, apricot, grape and other fruit trees have early maturity. They can germinate after they are formed in the same year, and produce primary, secondary, and tertiary secondary shoots in sequence. This characteristic can be used in pruning to accelerate the cultivation of backbone branches at all levels of the tree and promote the early formation of the crown.

(5) Latent nature: After the buds on the fruit tree are formed, not all buds germinate, but a part germinates and a part lurks. This characteristic becomes the basis for renewal and rejuvenation when the branches age and weaken. The longer the life span of such latent buds, the more conducive it is to the long-term survival and fruiting of the tree. This characteristic can be used in pruning to renew the aging fruiting branches and the backbone branches that droop and weaken after fruiting, so as to enhance the tree's ability to resist disease and disasters, and extend the life and fruiting years of the tree.