Picking the Right Rootstock and Spacing for Your New Orchard

Terence Robinson

Dept. of Horticulture

Cornell University

Geneva, NY 14456

• Conduct a continual replanting program to

remain competitive over the long term.

• Replant 4-5% of the farm annually

- This maintains the non-bearing to

bearing ratio <15%

- This allows the entire farm to be

replanted over 20-25 years

• We recommend that fresh fruit blocks be

planted at 900-1300 trees/acre in the tall

spindle system

• We recommend that processing fruit blocks be

planted at 500-700 trees/acre in the

vertical axis system

• We recommend that growers plant highly

feathered trees

Cornell Recommendations for Replanting

Choosing the Variety• The variety planted has a large impact on profitability of the new

orchard.

• To minimize risk, plant the best of the wholesale varieties on 50% of

new orchard acreage.

• To generate high returns, plant new varieties that have high fruit prices

on 40% of new orchard acreage.

• Gamble for very high returns with an emerging variety on a small

acreage (10%)

On a Fresh Fruit Farm in NY State the Replanting Strategy would look like:

• To minimize risk, plant the best of the wholesale varieties on 50% of new orchards.

– Gala - red stains (Brookfield etc..)– McIntosh -red strains Linda/RubyMac / Snappy / Acey Mac – Empire - Royal (with MCP)– Royal Cortland (with MCP) – Delicious (Best red strain with G.935 or G.202 at 1,000 trees/acre– Golden Delicious (Smoothee or Reinders from Europe)

• To generate high returns, plant new varieties that have high fruit prices on 40% of new orchards.

– Honeycrisp– Jonagold - Rubinstar, DeCoster, Red Prince (with MCP)– Golden Supreme– Fuji (Early strains Sept Wonder, Auvil Early, Beni Shogun)– Fuji Regular Strains -Aztec, Kiku Fubrax, Top Export, Suprema)– Cameo

• Gamble for very high returns on a small acreage (10%)– New club varieties (Ambrosia, Piñata, Jazz, Envy, Pacific Rose, Sweet Tango, NY-

1, NY-2 etc..)

On a Processing Fruit Farm the Replanting Strategy would look like:

• To minimize risk, plant the best of the wholesale varieties on 50% of new

orchards.– Idared

– Jonagold

– McIntosh

– Cortland

– Mutsu/Crispin

– Rome

• To generate high returns, plant new varieties that have high fruit prices on

40% of new orchards.– Autumn Crisp

– Granny Smith

– Fresh Fruit Varieties

• Gamble for very high returns on a small acreage (10%)– New club varieties for the fresh market (NY-1, NY-2 etc.)

Choosing the Right Rootstock and Spacing

• The choice of rootstock and

spacing depends on:

• Economics

• Rootstock Livability

• Rootstock Vigor and

Efficiency

• Scion Vigor

• Climate

• Soil type and fertility

• Irrigation/Fertigation

• Replant Disease

• Spacing

• Training System

0

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Tree Density (trees/acre)

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2010

2003

1. Economics: Profitability of Fresh Fruit Apple Orchards in NY over 20

Years

• We suggest that fresh fruit growers plant the tall spindle system at the optimum density

900-1300 trees/acre (3-4’ in row X 10-12’ between row)

• We suggest that processing apple growers plant the vertical axis system at the optimum

density

600-700 trees/acre (5-6’ in row X 13-14’ between row)

1b. Profitability of Processing Fruit Orchards over 25 years

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Trellised Systems

Free Standing Systems

2. Rootstock livability:

Fire blight infection of rootstocks is a

major problem in the USA• Infection of susceptible rootstocks results in

the death of the tree

• Infection of resistant rootstocks does not result

in the death of the tree. The tree survives and

the infected branches can be quickly re-grown.

Infection

2a. Fire blight susceptibility of Geneva and

Other Rootstocks after Infection (RN 18 Plot)

Gala

0102030405060708090

100

B.9

US

A

G.4

1

JM.7

P.14

B.9

Euro

pe

PiA

u 5

6-8

3

JM.2

M.9

Burg

756

Su

pp

ort

er4

M.9

Nic

29

M.2

6N

AK

B

M.2

6E

ML

A

M.9

T337

Rootstock

Tre

e M

orta

lity

(%

)

Honeycrisp

0102030405060708090

100

B.9

Euro

pe

G.1

6

G.4

1

B.9

US

A

G.6

5

G.1

1

G.9

35

P2

2

M.2

7

Support

er4

M.9

EM

LA

Ott

awa

3

M.2

6E

ML

A

Rootstock

Tre

e M

orta

lity

(%

)

2b. Rootstock Livability: Survival of Honeycrisp and McIntosh on

Different Rootstocks After the Severe Winter of 2004

% Live TreesRootstock Honeycrisp McIntosh Ottawa 3 100 a -Mark 92 ab 96 aG.16 92 ab 92 abM.9 T337 86 abcd 36 cdB.9 66 bcde 37 cdM.9 Nic29 55 cdef 58 bcM.26 39 ef 26 cdM.9/MM.111 36 ef 34 cdMM.111 32 fg 38 cdM.7 24 fg 31 cdMM.106 0 g 17 d

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

P.22

G.6

5

B.9

Eu

rope

B.9

US

A

M.2

7

G.1

1

CG

.30

07

G.4

1

G.9

35

G.1

6

CG

.40

13

M.9

M.9

T3

37

Sup

.4

M.9

Paj

am1

M.9

EM

LA

M.9

Nic

29

M.9

Nic

8

O.3

M.2

6

M.9

Paj

am2

CG

.62

10

Yie

ld E

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ien

cy

Tru

nk

X-S

ect.

Are

a

Trunk X-Sect. Area

Yield Efficiency

Geneva

3. Rootstock Vigor and Efficiency: NC140 project

• G.222 yields are roughly equivalent of M.9

• G.222 is not replant tolerant.

• G.222 generates blind wood similarly to M.7. The lack of crop density from blind wood keeps

G.222 from performing up to the level of the elites. (G.214, G.935, G.41)

• G.222 there is not enough trials, nor trials of different varieties to determine effect on fruit size

• G.222 is fire blight resistant

• G.222 is woolly aphid resistant

• G.222 and G.202 both share the same status. Productivity of Elite selections does not encourage

the long term investment into layer / stool beds

• Growers who strongly desire Fire Blight Resistance and/or woolly aphid resistance are likely to

find G.222 a successful product

• G.222 will outperform B.9 in many situations

In South Africa where this rootstock has been released:

• Trees on G.222 have the highest productivity of all rootstocks tested there.

• Trees on G.222 were in a vigor category between M.9 and M.26.

Use of acclimated TC material directly as rootstock liners

We have had few experiments that compared the performance of trees on rootstocks derived directly

from TC to conventional rootstock liners derived from stool beds. The results of such experiments show

that there are no significant statistical differences in productivity, however trees on TC derived

rootstocks experienced a slight increase in growth (vigor).

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

M2

7

CG

575

7

CG

240

6

CG

202

2

CG

503

0

CG

11

M9

CG

300

7

CG

421

4

M2

6

CG

400

4

CG

696

9

CG

508

7

CG

522

2

CG

853

4

CG

481

4

CG

401

1

CG

593

5

CG

600

6

CG

525

7

MM

10

6

CG

501

2

M7

CG

621

0

B1

18

CG

589

0

CG

600

1

CG

625

3

JM

2

JT

EC

CG

65

89

Crist Orchards (NY) Dwarf Rootstock Plot Planted in 2005

TCA (cm2) Cum Yield Efficiency (kg/cm2 TCA)

4. Scion Vigor

4. Scion Vigor

• Mutsu (Crispin)

• Northern Spy

• Jonagold

• McIntosh

• Cameo

• Fuji

• Gala

• Empire

• Idared

• Greening

• Macoun

• Sweet Tango

• Jazz

• Spur Delicious

• NY1

• Honeycrisp

Decreasing Scion Vigor

Scion Vigor: Grow the tree to the top wire (10 ft.) by the end of

the second year

Gala/M.9 Honeycrisp/M.9

Rootstock

(Performance at Peru, NY as a % of Performance at Geneva, NY)

Tree

Survival

Trunk

Cross-sectional

area

Cumulative

Yield

Average Fruit

Size

Cumulative Yield

Efficiency

Alternate Bearing

Index

Cumulative Root

Suckers

P.22 112.8 60.9 16.0 89.3 29.3 96.8 0.0

G.65 100.0 71.4 25.9 97.2 35.3 122.9 0.9

B.9Europe 100.0 78.2 38.2 94.0 48.7 97.3 0.0

B.9USA 100.0 80.4 41.0 93.0 50.7 106.3 0.0

M.27 116.3 51.2 34.0 92.3 60.1 82.9 0.5 G.11 100.0 79.9 49.0 91.9 61.4 121.9 0.0

CG.3007 112.4 81.3 36.4 88.5 44.5 81.6 0.0

G.41 100.0 84.6 49.4 89.4 57.7 116.4 0.0

G.935 100.0 105.6 47.7 88.1 45.3 130.2 0.5

G.16 100.0 87.2 50.5 92.0 58.3 112.1 0.0 CG.4013 103.8 46.4 32.1 88.4 69.1 81.1 1.5

M.9 100.0 48.8 29.8 91.1 65.8 103.9 0.0

M.9T337 100.0 48.0 38.8 91.0 84.9 99.4 0.6

Supporter 4 88.0 69.5 40.1 92.2 59.1 89.5 0.0

M.9Pajam1 100.0 46.1 29.8 89.4 66.3 122.9 0.7 M.9EMLA 100.0 51.1 34.6 91.6 74.9 90.5 2.3

M.9Nic29 100.0 59.7 37.4 93.8 62.7 93.2 0.0

M.9Nic8 100.0 61.4 37.5 91.7 63.1 126.8 0.0

Ottawa 3 100.0 72.1 40.9 91.5 56.1 114.9 0.0

M.26 100.0 75.0 49.1 87.7 63.7 96.9 0.0 M.9Pajam2 100.0 61.9 49.1 90.2 79.6 116.6 0.0

Mean Peru

vs. Geneva 101.6 67.6 38.4 91.2 58.9 104.9 0.3 z

5. Climate

-Length of Season

-Growing Degree Days

-Soil Temperature

-Winter Temperatures

5. Soil Type and Fertility

-High Organic Matter vs. Low Organic Matter

-Sandy soil vs. loam soil vs. clay soil

6. Irrigation and Fertigation

-Irrigation in the first 3 years improves tree growth 50-100%

-Fertigation improves tree growth 50-100%

7. Replant Disease

-Rootstocks differ in their tolerance to soil pathogens which cause replant disease.

7. Rootstock Tolerance to Replant Disease in North America

Making the Spacing Decision considering several inter-related

factors that affect final tree vigor

Rootstock Vigor +/- Factor for Scion Vigor +/- Factor for Climate +/- Factor for Soil Vigor

+/- Factor for Replant Disease

Examples

Mutsu/M.9 virgin ground in NJ

Base Spacing of 6’ in row +1’ for vigorous variety+1’ for vigorous climate+1’ for vigorous

soil+1’ for virgin soil =10’ in row spacing

Honeycrisp/M.9 replant ground in Northern NY

Base Spacing of 6’ in row – 1’ for weak cultivar – 1’ for short cool growing season + 0’ for

moderate vigor soil – 1’ for replant disease = 3’ in row spacing

8. Tree Spacing

20

40

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100

Tru

nk

X-S

ect.

Are

a (

cm2

)

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

Tree Density (trees/ha)

Effect of Tree Density on Tree Size

McIntoshGala

FujiEmpire

8. Training System: The Effect of Branch Angle on Tree Development

8. Tree Training System

8. Training System: “Large Branches Create Large Trees”

0

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Tree Density (trees/acre)

NP

V 2

0 y

ears

($

/acr

e)

2010

2003

Making the Rootstock Decision based on Economics: 900-1300 trees/acre

(3-4’ in row X 10-12’ between row)

• Use 3’ for weak and medium vigor

varieties.

• Use 4’ for vigorous varieties.

• Find the right rootstock to fit the 3 or 4’

spacing.Examples

Use vigorous clones of M.9 (Nic29 or RN29)

for medium vigor cultivars and or replant soil.

• Use weak clones of M.9 (T337 or Flueren56)

for vigorous varieties or virgin soil.

• Use M.26, interstems, or M.7 for very weak

varieties.

• Use irrigation/fertigation to improve lack of

vigor.

• Use limb bending and limb renewal pruning of

the Tall Spindle system to keep trees slender.

Released Geneva® Apple Rootstocks

Arranged by Tree Size

M.27 SizeM.9 T337

M.26 Size

M.7-MM106 Size

Seedling Size

G.65 G.41

G.16

G.202 G.30New

ReleasesG.210G.214

M.9 PAJ 2

G.11 G.935

G.969 G.890

G.213G.222

Geneva Rootstock Liner Production

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

2009 2010 2011 2012

Lin

ers

Pro

du

ctio

n (

nu

mb

er)

G.11

G.41

G.935

G.16

G.30

G.202

Total CG

Stoolbeds of Geneva Rootstocks in the USA

0

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2009 2010 2011

Am

ou

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of

Sto

olb

eds

(ft)

G.11

G.41

G.935

G.16

G.30

G.202

Total CG

Characteristics of G.11

• Tree size similar to M.9 T337.

• Productivity is similar to M.9.

• Large fruit size

• Resistant to Fire Blight but not immune.

• Resistant to Crown Rot

• Not tolerant to replant disease

• Susceptible to Wooly Apple Aphid

• Commercial sales in the US are picking up volume (~250,000)

• Good rooting in stoolbed (close to M.9)

Geneva® 11 M9-T337

Golden Reinders Bologna, ITALY

Courtesy of Stefano Musacchi

Characteristics of G.41• M.9 vigor

• Highly yield efficient

• Highly productive (most U.S. trials yields 100-125% of M.9)

• Very precocious

• Very cold hardy

• Does well in warmer climates (Mexico)

• Immune to Fire Blight and Crown Rot and Wooly Apple Aphid

• Replant tolerant

• Some issues with propagation being resolved by use of tissue culture mother plants

• In the USA production is ~100,000 plants in 2011.

G.41 Fuji CIV 2008

Characteristics of G.935

• Vigor intermediate between M.9

Pajam 2 and M.26

• Very cold hardy

• Good graft union and propagation

characteristics

• Resistant to Fire Blight and Crown

Rot

• Tolerant to Replant Disease

Complex

• Susceptible to Wooly Apple Aphid

• Production in US ~50,000 plants in

2011.

Characteristics of G.202• It is similar in size to M.26• Precocious, productive

• It is resistant to woolly apple aphid, fire blight, and crown rot

• In New Zealand it has been a top performer

• Good choice for weak growing cultivars like Honeycrisp

• Tolerant to apple replant disease

• Moderate rooting in stoolbed.• Production in North America

~80,000 plants in 2011.

G.214 Washington

Characteristics of G.214

Vigor similar to M.9 Pajam2

Highly yield efficient

Highly productive (most U.S. trials yields 100-125% of M.9 check)

Good precocity

Resistant to Fire Blight, Crown Rot and Wooly Apple Aphid

Replant tolerant

Very good stool bed propagation

No commercial production of liners.

G.890

Characteristics of G.969, G.210

and G.890• Vigor between M.7 and MM.106

• Replacements for G.30

• Free standing

• Precocious, productive

• Yield efficiency similar or better than M.9

• Resistance to woolly apple aphid, fire blight, and crown rot.

• Tolerance to apple replant disease.

• Good rooting in stoolbed few spines.

• Mostly for processing industry

• We suggest that fresh apple growers plant the tall spindle system at

the optimum density

1,000-1,300 trees/acre (3-4’ in row X 10-12’ between row)

• G.11

• best in virgin ground

• best with vigorous varieties (McIntosh, Jonagold, Fuji, Mutsu)

• G.41

• best in replant ground

• best with weak and medium vigor varieties (Gala, Empire)

• G.935

• best with weak varieties (Honeycrisp, SweetTango, NY1,

Delicious)

Rootstocks for Fresh Fruit Growers

• We suggest that processing apple growers plant the

vertical axis system at the optimum density

600-700 trees/acre (5-6’ in row X 13-14’

between row)

• G.969

• high yield but very manageable vigor

• tree is free standing but the large early crops

need support

• G.890

• more vigor than 969 but still very productive

• great for replant ground

• G.935, or G.202

• less vigor than 969 so require higher density

• use densities of 700-800 trees/acre

Rootstocks for Processing Growers

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Trellised Systems

Free Standing Systems

Summary

• Plant either 3 or 4’ in row and 10-12’ between row using the

tall spindle system for greatest profitability.

• Plant 5’ in row and 13-14’ between row for processing blocks.

• Pick a rootstock that is adapted to your climate and in the right

vigor range for your soil and scion

• Use fertilization, irrigation, limb bending and renewal pruning

to manage vigor.

• Several new Geneva rootstocks may allow a more precise

matching of scion, soil and climatic vigor with rootstock vigor

to fit the optimum economic tree density.

• There will be 500,000 Geneva liners planted in the US

nurseries this coming spring and 1 million in 2013.