Innovative Rootstocks
for Apple crop
Nicola Dallabetta
FEM (Italy)
Australia 20-24 November 2017
6206 km2;
ASU 141129,5 ha;
80% Mountains,
Apple: 11.000 Ha
460.000 tons
(25% of Italy)
Other crops :
2. Grape 125.000 tons
3. Soft fruits 6700 tons
4. Strawberry 4700 tons
5. Cherry 1700 tons
6. Olive 1600 tons
7. Kiwi 1200 tons
8. Plums 1200 tons
9. Pear 200 tons
Fruit production in Trentino
77-900 m a.s.l.
TIME LINE
1995
EUFRIN working groupCornell University
2008 2017
Training Systems, Tree density, Pruning Methods, Orchard Management, Fruit Production & Quality
FEM
Agricultural school Research
center
3A Center
BSc on Oenology
Transfer Technology center
Administration office &
Farm (100 ha)
Rootstocks
Research & Extension activities
Nursery Companies
Experimental sites
Maso delle Parti - 10 Ha
(Adige Valley, 210 m a.s.l)
Maso Maiano - 1.7 ha
(Non Valley, 650 m a.s.l.)
Spagolle – 10 Ha(Valsugana, 400 m a.s.l.)
Laimburg Research Institute,
International groups (EUFRIN)
Private orchards….
Layout of experimental fields
2
3
4H
G
F
C
E
A
A
D
E
C
B
H
NORD
B
2
1
3
5
4
A
B
C
CC
A
A
B
B
A
D
E
D
E
G
G
H
H
H
F
C
B
D
LD M
IF
H
B
G
D
A
A
F
Cultural tech.
Training systems
Varieties
Map 2015
MASO MAIANO
Rootstocks
Resistants
varieties
N
A
G
E
E
I
L H
I
G
2
P G
A BB-C
4
B
B
B
B
A
F
A
GCHIL
10
D
ECI
H C
13 12
G F H
7
D
7
H14
G F M
E L
F G
C
7A
8
C
A
5M
Map 2015
MASO delle PART
N
3
S
T
R
A
D
A
P
R
O
V
I
N
C
I
A
L
E
Cultural tech.
Training systems
Rootstocks
Varieties
F
E A
Resitstants
varieties
Crab Apple
collection
Cherry
AB
D
1
AL M N
C H I
F N O P Q R S T
I
DA L I E
D
4
11
A
Q POM
H
IL
F
MLC
N
D
B
Pear
16
B15
CB D E
N
B
F O
U A
AB
G
I
M N
CD
H E D C B A6
B A
O N M
ED
9
NA
Quebec
Vineland
Geneva
Michigan
Germany
Malling Sweden & Norway
Russia
Poland
Czech
Japan
Apple rootstock breeding
program (1970s-80s)
Israel
Geneva
New Zealand
Malling
Russia
S.Korea
China
Japan
Apple rootstock breeding
program (2005)
Rootstock interaction
Soil
(pH, type, anchorage, water, nutrients…)
Cultivar
Climate
Diseases and Pest
Orchard Management:
(tree architecture, pruning,
thinning, fertilization, irrigation,
weed control….)
Tree size
Which is the ideal genotype?
Dwarf and/or Semi-dwarf
Precocious & productive
That induces the development of early branches with wide branch angle
With good root system
Adaptable to different soil types
Resistant and/or Tolerant to:
Abiotic & Biotic stresses
FEM
objectives?
Disease resistance:
Apple Replant Disease (ARD)
Apple Dieback
Apple proliferation
Fire Blight
Crown and root rots (Phytophthora ssp)
Pest resistance:
Woolly Apple Aphids
Resistance to environment stresses:
Cold hardiness
Drought
Adaptable to
Different environment
Cultivars
Training systems
Tree densities
Tree size:
Dwarf - Similar to M9 for HDP
Semi dwarf - for Multi Leader Systems
(MLS)
Main issues for pest and disease
Fire Blight
Erwinia amylovora
Apple Proliferation
Canditus Phytoplasma mali
Woolly Apple Aphids
Eriosoma lanigerum
M9
1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generationApple Replant
disease (ARD)
Red Delicious
Superchief Sandidge
on M9 T337
at the 3rd leaf
170
cm
The present!
Use of M9 (99%)
High Density Planting(HDP) systems
(3000-6000 trees/ha)
Low biodiversity
Recent problems tied to soil fertility
Apple Tree Dieback White Root Rot (Rosellinia necatrix)
Type of tree
Ratio canopy/root system > 1;
Feathered trees ready to produce in the 2nd leaf;
Need fruiting branch selection at planting to reduce AGB.
Need a better balance: agb/bgb.
AGB/bgb
above ground
biomass (agb)
below ground
biomass (bgb)
What
growers
do?
New rootstock genotypes
NL UK France Germany Poland Czech Russia USA
Geneva®
NZ Italy
M9
T337
M9
EMLA
Pajam®1
Lancep
Supporter1®
(Pi-Au-33)
Lizzy®
P16
J-TE- E Budagovsky
Bud 9
G11 Selection 1 CIV-P21
(CIV)
M26 Pajam®2
Cepiland
Supporter3®
(Pi-Au9-82)
Last Minute®
P22
J-TE- F B10/Mitch
N°62396
G16 Selection 2 Apomictic
x M9
(FEM)
M27 Supporter4®
(Pi80)
P14 J-TE- G B496 G41 Selection 3
MM106 Jork 9 P59 J-OH- A G202 Selection 4
M116 P60 G935 Selection 5
AR 295 6 P67 G6969 Selection 6
AR 680 2 CG2034
AR 486 1 CG3001
AR 628 2 CG4218
AR 835 11
Rootstocks in trial at FEM
EUFRIN Working Group
Apple & Pear Variety & Rootstock Testing
ISHS XI International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems, Bologna (Italy) 28 August-2 September 2016
Trial 2011-2015:
Rootstock / cv / environment
Fruit weight vs Fruit number/tree
Suckers & Burr knots
3 treatments:
– Replanted
– Fumigated soil
– Free orchard soil – FOS (4 years)
Rootstocks:
– M9 T337
– CG 41
– CG 16
– CG 202
– CIV P21
ISHS XI International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems, Bologna (Italy) 28 August-2 September 2016
Trial 2011-15: ARD
ISHS XI International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems, Bologna (Italy) 28 August-2 September 2016
Effect of the different soil conditions
on “Tree size”
Tree size Yield Efficiency
New genotypes
Cultivars
Training Systems
&
Tree density
Research of
semi-dwarf rootstocks
M9 T337 Pajam®2
G®11
G®16
Pi80
G®202
M26 M106
CIV-P21
G®935 G®6969 G®4218
AR 295.6M116
M9 T337 G11 G202G16
Trial 2011
M9 T337 Ar 295.6 M9 T337 M 116
Trial 2012
M9 T337 CG 935 CG 6969
Higher Vigor
2nd leaf
New genotypes in 2014
G935 G69693nd leaf
3rd
leaf
Research of
dwarf rootstocks
M27
P22
J-TE-G
M9 T337
Jork 9
Supporter®1
Supporter®3
Bud9 Lizzy®P16
Bud491
M9 T337 Budagovsky 9 (B9) B491
M9 T337 P16 P22
Suckers & Burr knots
M9 is still the most used and productive rootstock in the fruit orchards !
G11 and G41 could be a good alternative to M9.
G41 is difficult to propagate in the nursery and it is still not available in Europe ! G11 Yes !
G16 is productive…similar to M9 but sensitive to latent viruses !
Bud9 represents a good alternative to M9 for vigorous cv such as Fuji.
AR 295.6, G935 and G6969 are precocious and productive. They could be suitable for weak soils and/or weak-growing scions !
G11, G935 and G6969 produce large fruit size. This might be likely due to their higher capacity of water and nutrient uptake.
The use of alternative genotype could improve water consumption efficiency and fertilizer applications.
The introduction of new genotypes requires a change in tree management system (pruning, irrigation, fertilization …).
Nowadays, new training systems and cultivars have been proposed in modern apple orchards and the choice of rootstock will play an important role.
In conclusion
Thank you for your attention