North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Richard Wagner" <rewagner@centurytel.net>]

In some tropical countries temperate zone fruits are brought into production by defoliating them Sometimes chemical defoliants are use and sometimes, especially with grapes, the vines are defoliated by hand.

 

I also recall reading in some very old horticulture books that at one time girdling was used with a similar effect. You might want to research these possibilities.

 

Richard Wagner 6B