ABSTRACT
Modern pomology, introduced in Europe in the 1950s-1960s, continues to innovate and develop new techniques for the management of orchard fruit trees. Initially, innovation was influenced by increased production costs and the breeding of new varieties. This push created specialized orchards where trees were planted at high density, and fruited quickly, but had a shorter life span. Now, the sustainability of these specialized orchards is one of the major topics of research. Many investigators are interested in how to make the orchard more efficient and how to reduce the amount of sprays necessary for maintenance through the development of new training systems and cultivars resistant to disease. Training systems for apple are chosen in relation to the cultivar and rootstock vigour, and to the ability to crop fruits with a high percentage of blush or over-colour, especially for bi-coloured cultivars.
