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Bearing Habit

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Figure 11. Illustrations of plum fruit borne laterally on a shoot (a), and cherry fruit borne on a spur (b).
Figure 11. Illustrations of plum fruit borne laterally on a shoot (a), and cherry fruit borne on a spur (b).

Shoot vs. Spur Bearing

The bearing habit of a species can be described by the location and types of buds which produce flower and fruit. Flower buds are borne laterally on shoots or spurs (Figure 11). Although green unripe fruit are photosynthetic, they require supplemental carbohydrates for proper development. In most fruit and nut tree crop species, the majority of carbohydrates required for fruit development are acquired from two sources: 1) reserves stored from the previous growth season in adjacent branch tissue, and 2) photosynthesis throughout the growing season in nearby leaves.

Bearing Habit Image Gallery

Each fruit and nut crop species has a distinct bearing habit and growth form. Flower buds are formed laterally on woody tissue, terminally at shoot tips, or on spurs. The Summary Table lists the bearing habit of 18 fruit and nut tree crops commonly grown in California.

Below is an Image Gallery of illustrations demonstrating the relative positions of leaves and flowers/fruits for each crop.

Apricot branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Apricot branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Apricot branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Apricot branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Apricot branch (3). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Apricot branch (3). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Cherry branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Cherry branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Cherry spur. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Cherry spur. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Fig: flowers and branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Fig: flowers and branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Fig branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Fig branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Nectarine branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Nectarine branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Peach branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Peach branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pear branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pear branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pear branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pear branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pear branch (3). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pear branch (3). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pear branch (modified). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pear branch (modified). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pecan branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pecan branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Persimmon branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Persimmon branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Persimmon branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Persimmon branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pistachio branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pistachio branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Plum branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Plum branch. Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pomegranate branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pomegranate branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pomegranate branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Pomegranate branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Quince branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Quince branch (1). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Quince branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Quince branch (2). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Quince branch (3). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.
Quince branch (3). Image provided by ClipArt Etc, University of South Florida.