Articles
FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH WINTER INJURY TO APPLE TREES
Article number
514_20
Pages
179 – 192
Language
Abstract
A survey was conducted in 1995/1996 to identify factors responsible for apple tree mortality during the winter of 1993/1994 in Quebec.
Data were collected on environmental factors, cultural practices and tree characteristics.
There was an interaction between the cultivar, rootstock and some cultural and environmental factors. ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Wealthy’, ‘Mutsu’, ‘Red Delicious’, ‘Golden Russet’ and ‘Yellow Transparent’ were severely injured or killed in all regions.
The mortality of other cultivars was mainly affected by certain combinations of cultural and environmental factors.
Generally, percent mortality was lower in higher altitude and in orchards with good snow cover.
Higher mortality was observed for very young or very old trees, especially those which had a heavy crop in the previous year or were exposed to wind.
Vigorous and weak trees were more susceptible to winter injury than trees of moderate vigour.
Less mortality was observed of trees which had been harvested early in the season.
Trees on dwarf rootstocks planted in sandy soil, sandy loam, gravel loam, or any soil in combination with sand or gravel were more susceptible to winter damage.
The orchard site and the location of trees in each orchard were the most important factors which affected mortality.
Maximum tree mortality was observed for trees which were exposed to cold air accumulation or prevention of flow of cold air by local obstructions such as natural windbreaks or land topography.
Orchards planted on a slight slope suffered the least damage.
The absence of a river, or a large body of water nearby increased mortality in all regions.
Data were collected on environmental factors, cultural practices and tree characteristics.
There was an interaction between the cultivar, rootstock and some cultural and environmental factors. ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Wealthy’, ‘Mutsu’, ‘Red Delicious’, ‘Golden Russet’ and ‘Yellow Transparent’ were severely injured or killed in all regions.
The mortality of other cultivars was mainly affected by certain combinations of cultural and environmental factors.
Generally, percent mortality was lower in higher altitude and in orchards with good snow cover.
Higher mortality was observed for very young or very old trees, especially those which had a heavy crop in the previous year or were exposed to wind.
Vigorous and weak trees were more susceptible to winter injury than trees of moderate vigour.
Less mortality was observed of trees which had been harvested early in the season.
Trees on dwarf rootstocks planted in sandy soil, sandy loam, gravel loam, or any soil in combination with sand or gravel were more susceptible to winter damage.
The orchard site and the location of trees in each orchard were the most important factors which affected mortality.
Maximum tree mortality was observed for trees which were exposed to cold air accumulation or prevention of flow of cold air by local obstructions such as natural windbreaks or land topography.
Orchards planted on a slight slope suffered the least damage.
The absence of a river, or a large body of water nearby increased mortality in all regions.
Authors
S. Khanizadeh, C. Brodeur, R. Granger, D. Buszard
Keywords
Apple, Canada, cultivars, hardiness, Malus, mortality, Quebec, rootstock, winter injury
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