G.213 rootstock – Alternative to apple tree cultivation in different planting areas in southern Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to evaluate development, quality, and productivity of Maxi Gala apple fruit grafted on rootstocks G.213, M.9 and Marubakaido with M.9 inter-graft on virgin soil and replanting area conditions, in Vacaria-RS, Brazil. The planting effect was evaluated separately for each set of rootstocks. The experimental areas were prepared in the winter of 2011, spacing of 1.0 × 4.0 m and density of 2500 plants per hectare, with Fuji Suprema as pollinator in 1:4 proportion. The plants were conducted in Tall Spindle system and the evaluations were managed for nine years. We observed that M.9 rootstock has low vigor, high productive efficiency, but low productivity, in both planting soils. The semi-vigorous rootstocks MB/M.9–30 and MB/M.9–20 were characterized by high vigor, high productivity (reduced in replanting area) and low productive efficiency. The G.213 rootstock was characterized by low vigor, high productivity, and high productive efficiency. Except G.213, all rootstocks had high production alternation values, especially when in replanting. In both experiments the rootstocks G.213 and M.9 were efficient in vigor controll, however the rootstock G.213 is more productive and stable over the years, providing greater productive efficiency in Maxi Gala than M.9. It was observed that the fruit quality of Maxi Gala cultivar measured by firmness, ºBrix, diameter and weight are not influenced by the rootstocks evaluated.