EFFECTS OF TWO PLANTING SYSTEMS ON ‘FLORINA’ AND ‘GENEROS’ APPLE TREES GRAFTED ON M.26 ROOTSTOCK

An experiment was set up at Bistrita Fruit Growing Research Station, North Romania in spring 2000. Two scab resistant apples, ‘Florina’ and ‘Generos’, grafted on M.26 rootstock, were planted at the density of 1600 or 2500 trees/ha.
Two training systems were also compared: slender spindle and V system.
In full bearing (5th-7th year after planting), the effect of these factors on tree growth, yield and fruit size were evaluated. ‘Florina’ showed a more vigorous growth and developed larger trees than ‘Generos’. At 2500 trees/ha ‘Florina’ trees were smaller than at 1666/ha, whereas ‘Generos’ trees were larger.
Slender spindle favoured a more vigorous growth at 2500 trees/ha, but the opposite effect was noted at 1666/ha.
Cumulative (three-year) yield per tree was, higher in ‘Florina’; however, the yield efficiency (YE) was the highest in ‘Generos’ trained as slender spindle.
The lower planting density resulted in the highest yield of ‘Florina’. Irrespective of cultivar or training system, YE was higher at the lower planting density (1666/ha). Yields per ha were, as a rule, higher at the higher tree density; nevertheless some interactions with cultivar and training system were found.
Fruit size was usually adversely affected by denser planting.
Fruits from slender spindle trees were usually larger.
However, interactions of the factors on fruit size were also noted.
Dry weather in 2004 resulted in an unusually small fruit size, particularly at the higher planting density.
The results indicate that the use of M.26 rootstock may be helpful in increasing tree density in apple orchards of North Romania but water deficiency may be a limiting factor.
However, planting density must be adjusted to cultivar and training system.

IX International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems

I. Platon, F. Stănică

Malus × domestica, scab resistant cultivar, canopy, yield, yield efficiency, fruit size, vegetative growth

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.903.87