314 ROOTSTOCK EFFECTS ON SHOOT MORPHOLOGY OF `DELICIOUS' APPLE

Abstract

One way in which rootstocks may influence production efficiency is by altering the number of spurs, and in particular reproductive spurs. However, rootstock influences on the morpholgy of shoots have not been quantified. Measurements were made on `Starkspur Supreme Delicious' trees growing on 17 rootstocks and planted in 1984 as part of the NC-140 regional rootstock trial. In each of the 6 years from 1988-1993, the length of the 2-year old section of wood of selected branches was measured and the number of spurs, flowers and shoots counted. For all rootstocks, trunk cross-sectional area was closely related to shoot length. Trees on P.22 (the most dwarfing rootstock in the planting) had shoot lengths 40-50% of those of trees on seedling rootstocks. For each rootstock, there was a strong negative relationship between shoot length and spur density, but there was not a common relationship among rootstocks. Similarly, flower number per shoot was also related to shoot length with different relationships for each rootstock. Flower density was not related to vigor for any of the rootstocks.