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
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Tree Density (trees/acre)
NP
V 2
0 y
ears
($
/acr
e)
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
-4000
-2000
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400Tree Density (trees/acre)
Net
Pre
sen
t V
alu
e ($
/acr
e)
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
ffic
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
60
80
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
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
0 500 1000 1500 2000
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
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
200,000
220,000
2009 2010 2011
Am
ou
nt
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
-4000
-2000
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400Tree Density (trees/acre)
Net
Pre
sen
t V
alu
e ($
/acr
e)
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.
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