APPLE TREE LIGHT INTERCEPTION, PHOTOSYNTHESIS, GROWTH, AND YIELD AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT ROOTSTOCKS

Abstract

Mature apple (Malus domestic a Borkh.) trees with “Starkspur Supreme Delicious” as the scion grafted on nine different rootstocks were studied in 1987 and 1988. Canopy seasonal development and its light interception were examined using fisheye (hemispherical) photographs Rootstock affected the amount of structural wood, the rate of canopy development and the final leaf area. However, rootstock did not affect the sigmoidal pattern of canopy development. Photosynthesis (Pn) was measured under field conditions. Shoot leaves, spur leaves on spurs without fruits (S-F), and spur leaves on spurs with fruit (S+F) from trees on M.26 EMLA and OAR 1 showed no differences in Pn rates. However, for both rootstock, shoot leaves had the highest Pn rate, S+F the lowest, and S-F leaves had intermediate values Growth and yield components were assessed by leaf separation into shoot and spur leaves while harvesting them. Rootstock strongly affected the canopy leaf distribution as well as leaf number, dry weight, area, number of spurs and yield PCLC. Yield efficiency was mainly dependent upon spur leaf dry weight. OAR 1 performed uniquely in this study