Effect of tree type and rootstock on the long-term performance of 'Gala', 'Fuji' and 'Honeycrisp' apple trees in a Tall Spindle production system under New York State climatic conditions

Authors: REIG, GEMMA - Cornell University; LORDAN, JAUME - Cornell University; SAZIO, MARIO - Cornell University; HOYING, STEVE - Cornell University; FARGIONE, MICHAEL - Cornell University; REGINATO, GABINO - Universidad De Chile; DONAHUE, DANIEL - Cornell University; FRANCESCATTO, POLIANA - Cornell University; Fazio, Gennaro; ROBINSON, TERENCE - Cornell University

Submitted to: Scientia Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/13/2018
Publication Date: 11/26/2018
Citation: Reig, G., Lordan, J., Sazio, M.M., Hoying, S., Fargione, M., Reginato, G., Donahue, D., Francescatto, P., Fazio, G., Robinson, T. 2018. Effect of tree type and rootstock on the long-term performance of 'Gala', 'Fuji' and 'Honeycrisp' apple trees in a Tall Spindle production system under New York State climatic conditions. Scientia Horticulturae. 246:506-517.

Interpretive Summary: Modern apple orchards have unique architectures that permit higher productivity, ease of harvest and efficient treatment with sprays. In this experiment we evaluated five rootstocks, two different types of nursery trees grafted with varieties like Gala, Honeycrisp and Fuji to evaluate the long term productivity with the “Tall Spindle System” orchard architecture. We found that certain rootstock combinations like Gala on G.41 rootstock yielded the most. We also found that well feathered (branched) trees produced more apples in the lifetime of the orchard compared to nursery trees that did not have branches.

Technical Abstract: In 2006, a 0.3 ha orchard trial was established at each of two sites (Dressel farm and VandeWalle farm) in New York State to compare two tree types (feathered trees and bench grafts) on five rootstocks [three Geneva® rootstocks (‘G.11’, ‘G.16’, ‘G.41’) one Budagovsky rootstock (‘B.9’) and one Malling rootstock (‘M.9T337’)]. ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ were used as scion cultivars at Dressel farm and ‘Gala’ and ‘Honeycrisp’ as the scions cultivars at VandeWalle farm. At each location trees were planted at 3,262 trees ha-1 and trained to a Tall Spindle (TS) system. Location, tree type and rootstock interacted to affect tree growth, production and fruit quality of each scion cultivar. ‘Gala’ trees from Vandewalle (Western NY State) were more productive than those from Dressel Farm (Southern NY State). The bench-grafted trees had lower cumulative yield per hectare, cumulative yield efficiency and cumulative crop load than the fully feathered trees. For ‘Fuji’, feathered trees with ‘G.11’, for ‘Gala’, feathered trees with ‘G.41’, and for ‘Honeycrisp’, feathered trees with ‘G.16’ were the combinations with the highest cumulative yield, high yield efficiency and crop loads, low biennial bearing and with slightly significant larger fruits.