Guidelines Annico 2021

Annico

Annico (E15T.41537) Annico is distinguished by a high production level, while delivering uniformity in fruit size and producing a very low percentage of class 2 trusses/fruit. Rootstock and propagation Annico is easy, fast and very uniform in propagation. The plant stretches slightly compared to the reference variety T and will be around 10% taller. This must be taken into account in propagation, especially in the period to reach day temperature. Annico is vigorously growing and will need to be cultivated with a generative strategy. When propagating in relatively high light conditions, it is advisable to halve the first true leaf after grafting in order to avoid a strong vegetative bearing. Sufficient generative management is very important, especially in the cultivation periods until 15 th September. Cultivation In the first months of cultivation, Annico gives strong, large leaves, good growth, but on the other hand it also puts a lot of energy into its fruit. With this variety don’t be too quick to label the thicker stems and long, broad leaves as “vegetative”. Do not try to make Annico thin! We have to accept the leaf and stem volume under the setting truss in the first 3 growing months. Instead assess the plant based on the top 10 cm of the plant, focusing on achieving a sufficiently strong, generative truss. In trials we have seen that Annico becomes balanced faster than, for example, Reference B, and easily develops in a balanced way, helped by the easy fruit set. Active cultivation is the best advice. Humidity control is very important with this variety. Literally put enough energy into it! Annico produces shoots quite easily. This is often an indication that the stems will also come through well and evenly after topping. For evenness and uniformity, it is better to top on the 3 rd leaf. For planting dates until 1 st September, one might consider producing a plant with 3 stems, however, predominantly our advice would be to have 2 stems / plant. Annico is not resistant to Verticilium. Generally a rootstock will be used anyway. As a grower, choose the rootstock that best suits your cultivation method and cultivation strategy. Plant load Work on generativity and plant balance from 2 days after planting by using high 24-hour temperatures with, if possible, a day/night difference of 6˚ to 9˚C. This may not always be easy for planting dates between May 1 and mid-September. There is a surplus of light and you can only go so far with this strategy. Density We do not yet have enough cultivation experience to be very specific. Below is an indication of what is expected to suit Annico well: Planting dates until 25/08 (week 34): Plant out at 2.5 heads/m². Increase to 2.8 - 3.2 heads/m² with the first truss shoot, depending on the light installation. With a lighting capacity of 14,000 lux or 200 micromol/s or higher, 3.2 heads/m² mid-winter should be possible. If it is not a problem to reduce head density later, you can consider going directly to max 3.75 heads/m² with the first truss shoot. Reduce density to 2.8 to 3.0 heads/m² around week 38. This topped stem will be fully harvested empty by week 46 then. The final plant density should be somewhere between 3.75 and 4.0 heads/m². In terms of truss-pruning policy, you may choose not to prune the first 2 trusses during this planting period or to only remove the ends of the trusses later. Goal: create plant load as quickly as possible. The same applies to plantings after mid-September, although humidity control becomes an attention point sooner and more strongly. Striving for an airy and active climate is a very important point in the autumn-winter period anyway. Ensure sufficient pipe heat from below without causing a rise in 24-hour temperature. In late September and October plantings, you will have to reduce the 24-hour temperatures sooner than you may think. Around the 6 th to 7 th truss you really have to focus more on truss quality! Accept the crop volume. Continuing with high 24-hour temperatures for too long to get the crop “thin” often results in weak trusses and (too) low fruit weight at the end of December and January. Planting dates 25/08 (week 34) to 25/10 Week 43: Plant out at 2.5 heads/m². Increase to 2.8 - 3.0 heads/m² with the first truss shoot (depending on available light), then between week 2 and week 6 increase density in 2 steps to 3.75 heads/m² maximum. Result of trials 2 | Enza Zaden Enza Zaden | 3