Articles
Light interception, productive performance and red colour coverage of ANABP 01 apple trees grown on different rootstocks in a multidirectional orchard
Article number
1366_12
Pages
103 – 110
Language
English
Abstract
The Australian red apple cultivar ANABP 01 requires deeper exploration into its productive and fruit quality performance in response to rootstock, row orientation and light interception.
The aims of this study were to investigate the influences that row orientation and rootstocks have on light interception, productive performance and fruit red colour coverage, and to establish relationships of yield and red colour coverage with light interception in ANABP 01 apples.
The experiment was carried out at the Tatura SmartFarm, in the Goulburn Valley of Victoria, Australia.
Trees were grown in a multidirectional orchard (E-W, NW-SE, N-S, NE-SW row orientations) on three dwarfing rootstocks (B.9, M.26, M.9), trained to spindles and planted at a density of approximately 2,800 tree ha‑1. Data were collected over the 2020-21 and 2021-22 summer seasons.
Light interception was measured prior to harvest and fruit colour, size, number and yield for experimental plots were assessed at harvest with a fruit grader.
M.26 and M.9 rootstocks intercepted the most light in both seasons.
B.9 consistently performed less well in terms of light interception and mean fruit size but displayed the highest percentage of dark red colour coverage.
Light interception showed positive and negative linear relationships with yield and dark red colour coverage, respectively.
The determination of row orientation effects on the parameters measured in this study would benefit from additional seasonal data, although preliminary observations suggest that dark red colour coverage of fruit in E-W oriented rows is negatively affected.
This study provides support to the apple industry to optimise orchard design and management of ANABP 01.
The aims of this study were to investigate the influences that row orientation and rootstocks have on light interception, productive performance and fruit red colour coverage, and to establish relationships of yield and red colour coverage with light interception in ANABP 01 apples.
The experiment was carried out at the Tatura SmartFarm, in the Goulburn Valley of Victoria, Australia.
Trees were grown in a multidirectional orchard (E-W, NW-SE, N-S, NE-SW row orientations) on three dwarfing rootstocks (B.9, M.26, M.9), trained to spindles and planted at a density of approximately 2,800 tree ha‑1. Data were collected over the 2020-21 and 2021-22 summer seasons.
Light interception was measured prior to harvest and fruit colour, size, number and yield for experimental plots were assessed at harvest with a fruit grader.
M.26 and M.9 rootstocks intercepted the most light in both seasons.
B.9 consistently performed less well in terms of light interception and mean fruit size but displayed the highest percentage of dark red colour coverage.
Light interception showed positive and negative linear relationships with yield and dark red colour coverage, respectively.
The determination of row orientation effects on the parameters measured in this study would benefit from additional seasonal data, although preliminary observations suggest that dark red colour coverage of fruit in E-W oriented rows is negatively affected.
This study provides support to the apple industry to optimise orchard design and management of ANABP 01.
Authors
M. Peavey, A. Scalisi, L. McClymont, I. Goodwin
Keywords
fruit quality, Malus domestica Borkh., orchard design, photosynthetically active radiation, yield
Groups involved
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
Online Articles (58)