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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Geneva, New York » Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #394414
Title: Rootstock Choice Affects Yield per Acre, Fruit Nutrient Profile, Bitter Pit Incidence and Crop Value

Author
item ROBINSON, TERENCE - Cornell University
item Fazio, Gennaro

Submitted to: New York State Fruit Quarterly
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2022
Publication Date: 4/1/2022
Citation: Robinson, T.L., Fazio, G. 2022. Rootstock Choice Affects Yield per Acre, Fruit Nutrient Profile, Bitter Pit Incidence and Crop Value. New York State Fruit Quarterly. Vol 1333, 373-378. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1333.50.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1333.50

Interpretive Summary: NA

Technical Abstract: The selection of rootstock is an important decision for apple growers which has large economic consequences. In recent years the number of possible rootstocks has increased significantly giving many options for apple growers. The optimum choice depends on rootstock adaptability to a specific climate, planting density and estimated total production over the lifetime of the orchard. In our research evaluating rootstock influenced bitter pit incidence, the best stocks are B.9, G.65 and G.214 but incidence of bitter pit only tells half of the story. The total yield of bitter pit free fruit is more important and can be used to calculate the actual crop value. When this was calculated a more complete picture emerges of which is the best rootstock to utilize for a high value variety like 'Honeycrisp'. This method shows that the best stocks were G.214, G.935 and G.11 and the super dwarfing stock B.9 was significantly inferior to 12 other stocks. However, a more complete picture emerges when yield is calculated at the optimum planting density not just the density used in the experimental planting. When using the optimum planting density to calculate yield and crop value, the best rootstock was G.11 followed by B.9, G.935, G.222, and G.30. This method gives a more complete picture and is a more easily understood to assist growers in selecting the best rootstocks. Our results have shown that there are large economic differences in cumulative crop value with a high priced cultivar like ‘Honeycrisp’ that are due to rootstock genotype. In one experiment the difference in cumulative net crop value between the best rootstock and worst rootstock was $200,000/acre over 14 years. In the second study the difference was $87,000 over 8 years. Thus, the decision of which rootstock to use for a new orchard can have very large economic consequences.