Comparison of Early Performance and Fire Blight Susceptibility of 12 Early Season Apple Cultivars

Abstract

In 1981, 12 cultivars of early season apples on M.9/MM.106 or M.9/MM.111 interstems were established at 2 locations in southern Ohio. The influence of the rootstocks on tree performance were minimal, with trees on M.9/MM.111 being slightly smaller and having lower yields and yield efficiency at Ripley. No rootstock differences were expressed at Jackson. ‘Discovery’ and ‘Akane’ were tardy in coming into production and had low yields compared to other cultivars. Highest yielding cultivars were ‘Ozark Gold,’ ‘Gala,’ and ‘Earliblaze’ and these cultivars also tended to have relatively high productive efficiecy by yield per trunk cross-sectional area. ‘Jonamac’ in both plantings tended to be small, efficient trees with good fruit quality. Severe fire blight infections occurred in both plantings. While ‘Viking’ showed very little infection, the following cultivars exhibited severe infection in one or both plantings: ‘Tydemans Red,’ ‘Discovery,’ ‘Paulared,’ ‘Earliblaze,’ and ‘Jonamac.’