Information about PLUM : Arubakhada

PLUM: Prunus domestica

Plum is locally known as Alubakhada in Nepal. Alubkhada is a kind of fruit found in Nepal. Its fruit tastes sour and sweet. Jam is also made from its fruit. It is red, black, yellow and sometimes green. Often the thin bark of the fruit is very flawed. Its pulp is juicy and can be eaten directly. Plum wine is also made after the yeast rises in its juice. Dried plums are eaten in many places and as they contain antioxidants, they also help to protect the body from some diseases.

Climate:

Plumb needs a humid climate with cold winters and warm summers . It blooms in the spring, so; the areas with frost free spring are most suitable for plum cultivation. Excessive rain during fruit maturity deteriorates fruit quality.

Soil:

They can grow in a wide range of soil but deep, fertile and we'll drain clay loam soil. They prefer a soil with a pH that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5. It is always a good idea to have your soil tested before planting any fruit tree to be sure that the pH is appropriate. You should also work the appropriate amendments into your soil before planting.

Species and cultivars:

There are two types of plum:

1. European plum ( prunus domestica)

• Origin: Northern America
• Vigorous tree
• Twigs and under surface of leaves are covered with small hairs
• Fruit shape round
• High chilling requirement.

2. Japanese plum (prunus salicina)

• Origin: China
• Japanese plum is small tree
• Hairs are absent
• Heart shape
• Low chilling requirement

Propagation:

• Cleft grafting, tongue grafting: Feb
• Shield budding: April- May
• Chip budding: Feb

Planting:

After one year of budding and grafting Japanese plums, they are ready for transplanting in the main field during dormant season.

European plums: 2 years old are ready for transplanting.

Planting distance: 5-6 m

Training and pruning:

The purpose of pruning and training is to encourage tree health and increase fruit yield. When plum trees are not carefully pruned, they can easily become heavy and break under their fruit load. Developing a strong foundation is essential to the life of any fruit tree. In addition, keeping fruit trees well pruned protects against both disease and pest infestations. European plum should be pruned more lightly than Japanese plums. Japanese plums have a tendency to grow outward and European plums grow upright.

Manuring:

The FYM along with a full dose of P and K should be applied during December to January. Half dose of N is applied in spring before flowering and recommended half dose of N is applied a month later

Fruit thinning:

Thinning of fruit is essential especially in Japanese groups because they fruit very profusely. Fruits remain small in size with poor quality. Two methods of fruit thinning;

1. Hand thinning of fruit set stage- April

2. Foliar spraying of 200 ppm NAA and 100 ppm carbary 1 at full bloom stage

Fruit drop:

To control fruit drop 10 ppm 2,4,5-T or 15 ppm 2,4-D or 5 ppm NAA is effective.

Harvesting:

Plums develop for 3 to 4 months from blossoms, and ripen from hard and green to fully colored and soft on the tree. Plums will only be ripe on the tree for about 2 weeks and drop as they become over-ripe. There may be a mix of green-ish unripe fruit and fully ripe fruit on the tree at one time. The change of color for each variety would determine its stage of maturity.

Yield: 60-70 kg tree/year

Insect:

1. San Jose Scale

2. Ok fruit moth

3. Defoliating Beetle

4. Plum case worm

Disease:

1. Shot Holes

2. Armillaria root rot Armillaria mellea.

3. Black knot Apiosporina morbosa.

4. Brown rot Monilinia spp.

5. Powdery mildew Sphaerotheca pannosa. Podosphaera tridactyla.

6. Rust Tranzschelia discolor.

Control:

Spray captan (0.2%) before leaf fall.