The Effect of Girdling on the Productivity of the Avocado1

Abstract

Girdled branches of 6 avocado cultivars usually bore an increased subsequent crop. A decrease in productivity of girdled as compared with ungirdled control branches, was recorded for all cultivars except ‘Benik’, in the second and third years after treatment. Increased yield could be maintained by repeated girdling. The girdle also affected the ungirdled control branch. Girdling sometimes induced a second “on-year” in the alternate-bearing cultivars.