sodininkystė ir daržininkystė 25(4)

SCIENTIFIC WORKS OF THE LITHUANIAN INSTITUTE OF
HORTICULTURE AND LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE.
SODININKYSTË IR DARÞININKYSTË. 2006. 25(4).
GROWTH AND FRUITING OF APPLE TREE
CV. ‘JONICA’ ON DIFFERENT ROOTSTOCKS
Przemysùaw BANACH, Maciej GÀSTOÙ
Department of Pomology and Apiculture Agricultural University in
KrakówAl. 29 Listopada 54, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
E-mail przemek351@op.pl
Abstract: The aim of the experiment, conducted in 1999-2003, was to estimate
the influence of five rootstocks (M.9, M.26, P 22, P 59 and P 60) on the growth,
cropping and fruit quality of apple trees ‘Jonica’. The investigated rootstocks significantly
influenced trees’ vigour expressed as trunk cross-section area (TCSA). The
weakest growth was obtained for trees grafted on rootstocks P 59 and P 22 (10.9
and 11.3 cm 2 TCSA), while stronger on M.9 and P 60 (25.6 cm 2 and 19.1 cm 2 , respectively).
The trees on M.26 were characterized by the strongest vigour (30.6 cm 2 ).
Weather conditions, especially rainfalls, had a great impact on the growth of the
assessed trees. The growth of trees expressed as crown volume was especially
decreased by rootstocks P 22 and P 59. The highest flowering abundance in comparison
to rootstock M.9 (3.3 in scale 0-5) was observed for P 22 (4.0) followed by P
59 and P 60 (3.5) and M.26 (3.3). Rootstocks did not have an impact on fruit set.
The highest fruit set was observed in 2001 and 2002, and consequently the highest
yield was obtained in these seasons. Though some differences between rootstocks
were found in the respect of yielding, they were not statistically significant. The total
yield varied from 37.5 kg/tree for M.9, 36.4 kg for M.26, 33.3 kg for P 22, 26.1 kg
for P 60 and 25.3 kg/tree. However, some differences concerning productivity of
trees were found. As far as yield efficiency index is concerned, the most productive
trees were those grafted on rootstocks P 22 and P 59 (2.96 and 2.40 kg/cm 2 , respectively).
Trees on rootstocks M.9, P 60 and M.26 were less productive, with the yield
efficiency index of 1.51, 1.40 and 1.20 kg/cm 2 , respectively. Rootstocks used for
this study significantly differentiated the mean weight of fruit, which varied from
220 g for M.9, followed by M.26 (204 g) and P 60 (197 g), P 22 (178 g) and P 59
(186 g). Rootstocks did not affect fruit coloring.
Key words: apple, rootstock, growth, fruit quality.
Introduction. Rootstock as an integrated part of fruit tree strongly influences
its vigour, productivity and quality of fruits. However, there is no universal rootstock
for all climatic and soil conditions. Altough trees of ‘Jonagold’ grafted on
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