Rootstock and Scion Cultivar Interact to Affect Apple Tree Performance: A Five-year Summary of the 1990 NC-140 Cultivar/Rootstock Trial

Abstract

‘Golden Delicious,’ ‘Jonagold,’ ‘Empire,’ and ‘Rome’ apple scion cultivars on M.9 EMLA, B.9, Mark, O.3, and M.26 EMLA rootstocks in all combinations were planted in an NC-140-coordinated trial in 1990 at 17 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Tree performance was assessed from 1990 through 1994. M.26 EMLA was consistent across scion cultivar in its effects on tree performance. Relative to other rootstocks, M.26 EMLA resulted in a large tree, with low precocity, high yields, low yield efficiency, and large fruit. With ‘Golden Delicious,’ ‘Empire,’ and ‘Rome’ as scion cultivars, 0.3 consistently resulted in a large tree with low precocity, high yields, moderate yield efficiency, and small fruit. With ‘Jonagold,’ O.3 resulted in a moderately sized tree with moderate yields. With ‘Jonagold,’ ‘Empire,’ and ‘Rome’ as scion cultivars, M.9 EMLA resulted in a moderately sized tree with low precocity, high yield, moderate yield efficiency, and large fruit. With ‘Golden Delicious,’ M.9 EMLA resulted in low yields and low yield efficiency. Across all scion cultivars, B.9 produced a small tree, with high precocity, low yields, high yield efficiency, and large fruit. Mark also was consistent in its effect across scion cultivars, producing a small tree, with high precocity, low yields, high yield efficiency, and small fruit.