Effect of Exposed Length of Rootstocks on the Occurrence of Bitter Pit and Tree Vigor of 'Gamhong'/M.26 Apple Cultivar

Abstract

‘Gamhong’ apple cultivar which was bred by National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, has high sugar contents, large types of fruit and mid-season types of cultivar. However, ‘Gamhong’ apple tree is very sensitive cultivar to bitter pit. Therefore, many farms have not solved the problems on bitter pit to cultivate ‘Gamhong’ apple tree. This study was carried out to find out the exposed length of rootstocks on the occurrence of bitter pit and fruit quality of ‘Gamhong’/M.26 apple tree and seek the ideal cultivation strategy to decrease bitter pit to cultivate it. For this research, ten-years-old ‘Gamhong’/M.26 apple trees were used. The difference among the treatments of the exposure of rootstock of RL (5 cm), RM (15 cm) and RH (20 cm) from the soil surface was observed with 4 repetition from 2010 to 2011. Decreased exposure of rootstocks resulted in more vigorous growth, taller height, and greater number of shoots. N and K/Ca of RH was tend to be lower than RM and RL, whereas as the exposure of rootstock decreased, fruit weight and bitter pit increased. Therefore, occurrence of bitter pit in RH was significantly lower than that of RM and RL treatment and fruit weight also decreased. There was no difference on nutrient contents of leaf and the fruit quality by the exposed of rootstock in ‘Gamhong’ M.26 apple tree. To reduce the occurrence of bitter pit, it may be helpful to keep the optimum exposure of rootstock within 20 cm from the soil surface.