Rootstock Affects Ripening, Size, Mineral Composition, and Storabiiity of ‘Starkspur Supreme Delicious’ in the 1980-81 NC-140 Cooperative Planting

Abstract

‘Starkspur Supreme Delicious’ apple trees on O.3, M.7 EMLA, M.9 EMLA, M.26 EMLA, M.27 EMLA, M.9, MAC.9 (Mark), MAC.24, and OAR 1 were planted in Belchertown, MA, Blacksburg, VA, and in Princeton, KY in 1980 and 1981. Assessment of fruit ripening in 1986-1989 in Massachusetts suggested that early fruit ripening was encouraged by M.27 EMLA and late fruit ripening was encouraged by M.7 EMLA. In Virginia, data from 1985-1987 suggested that M.9 EMLA and O.3 encouraged early ripening and that MAC.24 and OAR 1 encouraged late ripening. In Kentucky, data from 1985-1989 suggested that M.27 EMLA and MAC.9 encouraged early ripening and MAC.24 and OAR 1 encouraged late ripening. Fruit size in Massachusetts (1986-1989) was largest on average from trees on M.9 EMLA and smallest from trees on OAR 1. In Massachusetts, fruit calcium (Ca) content (1986-1988) of fruit from trees on MAC.9 was consistently in the highest category, and that of fruit from trees on OAR 1 was consistently in the lowest category. The incidence of storage disorders in Massachusetts related to fruit Ca content in 1987 and ripening in 1988.