A MULTI-SITE ROOTSTOCK TRIAL WITH THE APPLE CULTIVARS ‘COX’s ORANGE PIPPIN’ AND ‘JONAGOLD’

Ten rootstocks were evaluated at three sites in The Netherlands (Wilheminadorp, replant in clay soil; Zeewolde, fresh (virgin) clay soil; Horst, replant in sandy soil) with the apple cultivars ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ and ‘Jonagold Wilmuta’. Tested rootstocks were the Polish P.16 and P.22, the Russian B.146, B.469 and B.491, the German J.9, and the Canadian O.3 and KSC.28. Rootstock performance was compared with that of the standard rootstocks M.27, M.9 and in Horst also with M.26. The aims of the trial were to find rootstocks with a vigour level between that of the standard M.27 and M.9 and to look for suitable substitutes for these standard rootstocks.
The trial was planted in spring 1989 and terminated at the end of 1995. Three rootstocks showed a vigour level between that of M.27 and M.9: B.146, B.469 and P.16, and the same held for P.22 with ‘Cox’ and for B.491 with ‘Jonagold’. With ‘Cox’, B.491 equalled M.27 and with ‘Jonagold’, this was true for P.22. On clay, J.9 was somewhat weaker than M.9, but on sand, vigour was equal.
O.3, KSC.28 and M.26 induced higher vigour than M.9. Both B.491 and P.22 may be alternatives for M.27 as they are likely to be slightly more vigorous.
In addition, P.22 induces better fruit size and B.491 higher calcium levels in fruits and leaves on trees grown on clay.

I International Symposium on Rootstocks for Deciduous Fruit Tree Species

F.M. Maas, S.J. Wertheim

apple, Malus x domestica, M.9, M.26, M.27, P.16, P.22, B.146, B.469, B.491, J.9, O.3, KSC.28

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.658.25