Articles
Horticultural performance of Fuji apple trees on the Cornell-Geneva® apple rootstocks in South Africa
Article number
1346_77
Pages
619 – 626
Language
English
Abstract
The benefits of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) rootstocks on protecting scions against biotic and abiotic stresses, influencing scion vigour, precocity, and fruit quality are well known.
The objective of this study was to evaluate rootstocks from the Geneva® range (G.778, G.228, and G.202) against the South African industry-standard rootstocks (MM.109, M.793, and M.7 EMLA). During the 2013 season, identical apple rootstock trials with Fuji scions were established on fumigated soil at three localities (Oak Valley Estate, Breëvlei and Helderwater) in South Africa with M.7 EMLA, G.202, M.793, G.228, MM.109 and G.778 planted in 10 blocks of 3 trees per treatment plot.
The trees at Oak Valley Estate and Helderwater were planted at 4×1.5 m, while those at Breëvlei were planted at 3.5×1.5 m.
The G.778, G.228 and G.202 rootstocks produced the greatest cumulative yields at Oak Valley Estate.
At Helderwater, the greatest cumulative yields were achieved with trees on G.778 and G.228 followed by those on MM.109, G.202 and M.7 EMLA, while the lowest cumulative yields were with trees on M.793 rootstocks.
The trees on G.202, G.228 and G.778 rootstocks were more productive than the trees on M.7 EMLA, M.793 and MM.109 rootstocks at Breëvlei.
The trees on G.202 rootstocks had the greatest cumulative yield efficiency, while the trees on M.793 and MM.109 rootstocks were the least cumulative yield efficient at all the three sites.
At all three farms, the trees on G.778, G.228 and G.202 rootstocks were consistently productive with the greatest cumulative yields, while the trees on MM.109, M.793 and M.7 EMLA were consistently less productive with the lowest cumulative yields.
Therefore, the G.778, G.228 and G.202 rootstocks have the potential to replace the commercial South African apple rootstocks, MM.109, M.793 and M.7 EMLA in the country.
The objective of this study was to evaluate rootstocks from the Geneva® range (G.778, G.228, and G.202) against the South African industry-standard rootstocks (MM.109, M.793, and M.7 EMLA). During the 2013 season, identical apple rootstock trials with Fuji scions were established on fumigated soil at three localities (Oak Valley Estate, Breëvlei and Helderwater) in South Africa with M.7 EMLA, G.202, M.793, G.228, MM.109 and G.778 planted in 10 blocks of 3 trees per treatment plot.
The trees at Oak Valley Estate and Helderwater were planted at 4×1.5 m, while those at Breëvlei were planted at 3.5×1.5 m.
The G.778, G.228 and G.202 rootstocks produced the greatest cumulative yields at Oak Valley Estate.
At Helderwater, the greatest cumulative yields were achieved with trees on G.778 and G.228 followed by those on MM.109, G.202 and M.7 EMLA, while the lowest cumulative yields were with trees on M.793 rootstocks.
The trees on G.202, G.228 and G.778 rootstocks were more productive than the trees on M.7 EMLA, M.793 and MM.109 rootstocks at Breëvlei.
The trees on G.202 rootstocks had the greatest cumulative yield efficiency, while the trees on M.793 and MM.109 rootstocks were the least cumulative yield efficient at all the three sites.
At all three farms, the trees on G.778, G.228 and G.202 rootstocks were consistently productive with the greatest cumulative yields, while the trees on MM.109, M.793 and M.7 EMLA were consistently less productive with the lowest cumulative yields.
Therefore, the G.778, G.228 and G.202 rootstocks have the potential to replace the commercial South African apple rootstocks, MM.109, M.793 and M.7 EMLA in the country.
Publication
Authors
X.I. Siboza, W.P. Kotze, N.C. Cook, W.J. Steyn
Keywords
fruit quality, reproductive performance, vegetative performance, vigorous
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