Studied Apple Cultivars Research Articles

Identifying indicators of apple bud dormancy status by exposure to artificial forcing conditions.

Dormancy in temperate fruit trees is a mechanism of temporary growth suspension, which is vital for tree survival during winter. Studies on this phenomenon frequently employ scientific methods that aim to detect the timing of dormancy release. Dormancy release occurs when trees have been exposed to sufficient chill, allowing them to resume growth under conducive conditions. This study investigates dormancy dynamics in two apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) cultivars, 'Nicoter' and 'Topaz', by sampling branches in an orchard over 14weeks (2019 to 2020) and over 31weeks (2021 to 2022) and subjecting them to a 42-day budbreak forcing period in a growth chamber. Temporal changes in budbreak percentages demonstrated dormancy progression in the studied apple cultivars and allowed the three main dormancy phases to be distinguished: paradormancy (summer dormancy), endodormancy (deep dormancy) and ecodormancy (spring dormancy), along with transition periods between them. Using these data, we explored the suitability of several alternative methods to determine endodormancy release. Tabuenca's test, which predicts dormancy release based on the differences in dry weights of buds with and without forcing, showed promise for this purpose. However, our data indicated a need for considerable adjustments and validation of this test. Bud weight and water content of buds in the orchard did not align with budbreak percentages under forcing conditions, rendering them unsuitable for determining endodormancy release in 'Nicoter' and 'Topaz'. Shoot growth cessation did not seem to be connected with either dormancy progression or dormancy depth of the studied cultivars, whereas leaf fall coincided with the beginning of the transition from endo- to ecodormancy. This work addresses methodological limitations in dormancy research and suggests considering the mean time to budbreak and budbreak synchrony as additional criteria to assess tree dormancy status.

Study of the grafting compatibility of the apple rootstock 12–2, resistant to apple replant diseases (ARD)

BackgroundCultivation of resistant rootstocks can effectively prevent apple replant disease (ARD), and grafting tests are an important means of evaluating the compatibility of rootstocks with scions.MethodsThe apple rootstocks 12–2 (self-named) and Malus hupehensis Rehd. (PYTC) were planted in a replanted 20-year-old apple orchard. The two rootstocks were grafted with scions of 13 apple varieties. Multiple aboveground physiological parameters of the grafted combinations were measured and evaluated to verify the grafting affinity of 12–2 with the scions as compared to Malus hupehensis Rehd. (PYTC).ResultsThe graft survival rate and graft interface healing of 12–2 did not differ significantly from those of PYTC. Mechanical strength tests of the grafted interfaces showed that some mechanical strength indices of Redchief, Jonagold, Starking, Goldspur and Yinv apple varieties were significantly higher when they were grafted onto 12–2 compared to the PYTC control. The height and diameter of shoots and the relative chlorophyll content, photosynthetic and fluorescence parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde content of leaves showed that Fuji 2001, Tengmu No.1, RedChief, Gala, USA8, and Shoufu1 grew similarly on the two rootstocks, but Tianhong 2, Lvguang, Jonagold, Starking, Goldspur, Yinv and Luli grew better when grafted onto 12–2 than onto the PYTC control. The rootstock 12-2, therefore, showed good grafting affinity.ConclusionThese results provide experimental materials and theoretical guidance for the cultivation of a new grafting compatible rootstock to the 13 studied apple cultivars.

A study of introduced apple cultivars according to the main components of winter hardiness by simulating damaging factors under controlled conditions

Background. Most of the plantings of fruit crops in Russia are located in the zone of risky agriculture. In the European part of Russia, in winter, fruit crops are affected by the impacts of weather conditions (spring frosts, droughts, early frosts, low-temperature stress, a short growing season, and thaws). Frosts cause 98% of the damage to fruit trees.Methods. One-year-old branches were frozen in a Japanese Espec PSL-2KPH climate chamber after prehardening under –5°C and –10°C for 5 days, and damaging factors of the winter period were simulated.Results. The bioresource collection of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK) contains 730 appletree cultivars from various domestic and foreign institutions. Apple cultivars from Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Moldova, USA, France, Czech Republic, Sweden and Canada were analyzed for frost resistance components. The resistance of plants to early frosts of–25°C without hardening and after hardening in early winter (Component I) showed that the main tissues (bark, cambium and wood) suffered minor damage in all studied cultivars. In cv. ‘Belarusskoye Sladkoye’, the damage to the bark scored 2.3 points. Among the studied apple cultivars whose one-year-old branches were frozen at –38°C and –40°C (Component II), ‘Coremolda’ (Moldova) showed the highest frost resistance to the negative mid-January temperature of –38°C (damage to the buds and main tissues scored 0.3–1.0 points). Under–40°C (Component II), ‘Coremolda’ (Moldova) and ‘Aivaris’ (Latvian breeding) demonstrated bark, cambium and wood resistance with damages at the level of 2.0 points. These cultivars can be used in breeding programs as sources of frost resistance. Freezing of one-year-old branches under –25°C after a 3-day artificial thaw at +2°C revealed bud and tissue resistance in the American cv. ‘Red Free’ and in cv. ‘Coremolda’ (Component III).

Keeping ability of apple fruits of new cultivars under different storage technologies

The fruits of new apple cultivars bred by the FSBSI “Federal Scientific Center named after IV Michurin”, adapted to the stressful weather conditions of the Central Black Earth Region of Russia, were used. During storage of control and 1-MCP-treated fruits of 5 studied apple cultivars in air (regular atmosphere: CO2 = 0.03%, O2 = 21%), modified atmosphere (O2 = 16-19%, CO2 = 1.5-5.0%) and controlled atmosphere with ultra-low oxygen content (O2 = 1.2-1.5%, CO2 = 1.2-1.5%), the following main diseases were identified: for cv. Uspenskoye – scald, bitter pit, breakdown; for cv. Fregat - bitter pit, breakdown, CO2-skin injury. Development of several diseases at the same time is also possible (CO2-skin injury + bitter pit, bitter pit + breakdown); for cv. Flagman - scald, bitter pit, breakdown, scald + bitter pit; for cv. Bylina - CO2-skin injury, bitter pit, breakdown, soft scald; for cv. Vympel - CO2-skin injury. Maximum storage efficiency was shown by fruits cv. Vympel stored under CA + 1-MCP technology. Data on the keeping ability of apple fruits of the studied cultivars allow developing high-precision varietal storage technologies.

EVALUATION OF NEW APPLE CULTIVARS GROWN INROMANIAN NORTHEASTERN AREA

The paper presents a 2-years study of the valuable characteristics in four foreign apple cultivars grown in northeastern Romania, named Moldavia area. The phenological stages, quality traits of fruits and some chemical parameters were evaluated. Start flowering was determined at April 17th (’Resse’), while end of flowering was identified the period April 27th -28th. Period of flowering was 9 to 12 days as average for studied years 2019-2020. Fruit’s weight have varied between 120.55 g (’Resse’) and 179.46 g (’Remo’), while fruit’s equatorial diameter have varied between 65.82 mm and 74.87 mm at ‘Resse’ and respectively ‘Remo’, but no statistically distinct differences registered between all studied apple cultivars. The values of the soluble dry solids range between 14.65° Brix (‘Resse’) to 17.05° Brix (‘Relinda’), and the total dry solids has recorded values between 17.95% (’Resse’) to 21.39% (‘Remo’). The studied apple cultivars showed variability but some got remarked through large fruit’s size or high level of soluble dry solids.

Characteristics of VNIISPK apple cultivars on semi-dwarf rootstock 54-118

Relevance. Due to the wide diversity of cultivars and rootstocks, the selection of more productive, commercial and adapted graft-rootstock combinations for industrial orchards in the Orel region and the entire Central Chernozem region is relevant.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out at the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK) on the bases of the laboratory of cultivar study and cultivar agrotechnics of pome crops and the laboratory of physiology of fruit plant resistance. Winter apple cultivars of VNIISPK breeding ‘Sinap Orlovsky’, ‘Veteran’, ‘Orlik’, ‘Rozhdestvenskoye’, ‘Svezhest’, ‘Bolotovskoye’, ‘Veniaminovskoye’ and control cultivar ‘Antonovka Obyknovennaya’ on the vegetatively propagated semi-dwarf rootstock 54-118 were taken as objects of the studies. The orchard was planted in autumn 2013, the planting scheme was 6 mx3m.Results. The studied apple cultivars have good compatibility with 54-118 rootstock, provide good tree development and low-sized crown. The highest yield on average for three years was in scab-immune apple cultivars ‘Bolotovskoye’ (4.6 t/ha), ‘Rozhdestvenskoye’ (3.4 t/ha) and ‘Venyaminovskoye’ (3.2 t/ha). The highest indicators for the load of the crop on the crown volume, crown projection area, and cross-sectional area of the stem were for ‘Svezhest’ and ‘Bolotovskoye’. As a result of determining the frost resistance of apple cultivars in mid-January to temperatures up to -38...-40°C, it was revealed that in the hardened state, the cultivars showed frost resistance of buds and tissues of annual shoots with reversible damage at -38°C in the middle of winter. A decrease in temperature to -40°C in January increased damage to buds and wood in the studied varieties, while the bark was characterized by greater frost resistance. According to the degree of damage to the cortex in January, when the temperature dropped to -40°C, ‘Rozhdestvenskoye’, ‘Svezhest’, and ‘Sinap Orlovsky’ were at the control level.

Influence of plant immunity inducers on the quality of apple fruit in Abkhazia

The quality of fruit depends largely on the growing area of the crop, the intensity of disease development, damage by pests, as well as on the treatment of plants with compounds of various chemical natures. When introducing the immunity inducers Albit® (poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid), Immunocytophyte® (arachidonic acid ethyl ether) and Ecogel® (chitosan lactate) into apple tree protection systems, an urgent task is to study their influence on the quality of fruits. Research was conducted on apple trees (cultivars Idared and Golden Rangers) in the conditions of the Republic of Abkhazia (Gulripsh district). When treated with immunity inducers, the genotypic features of the cultivars were clearly revealed. For the susceptible Idared cultivar, it is more significant to use Ecogel®, which causes the active synthesis of soluble solids, pectin, soluble sugars, ascorbic acid, and as a result, an increase in the sugar-acid index. At the same time, a relatively resistant cultivar Golden Rangers has a similar effect when treated with Immunocytophyte®. Treatment with Albit® has the same effect on the synthesis of soluble organic acids in the fruits of the studied apple cultivars, reducing their amount. The results obtained indicate the need for a cultivar-specific approach in the application and selection of plant immunity inducers.

Study of water regime parameters in apples during drought

Relevance. Recently, the number of hot and dry years has increased significantly. Under the influence of drought, the leaves of the apple tree prematurely fall, the ovaries and fruits fall off, which significantly affects on the yield. In this regard, the study of the water regime of apple remains relevant under drought conditions.Methods. The studies were carried out on the basis of the laboratory of physiology of fruit plant resistance at VNIISPK in 2016-2017. Apple cultivars of the VNIISPK breeding growing on the semi-dwarf rootstock 54-118 were studied. Antonovka Obyknovennaya was taken as a standard cultivar. The experiments were laid in 2013, the spacing scheme was 5 m x 3 m. The crown shape is of spindle type. The row-spacing and near-trunk stripes are kept under the fall fallow. The method of artificial dehydration was used to determine drought resistance of apple cultivars. The apple cultivars were studied with the aim to determine the physiological parameters of water regime relative to their drought resistance.Results. As a result of the two-year studies, the cultivars were characterized by the average content of water in leaves (61.2-65.1%). Water deficiency in most varieties was optimal in the field and did not exceed 10.0%. The increase in water deficiency in apple leaves was noted in drought modeling. For two years, of the leaf tissues water deficiency was in leaves of the Veniaminovskoye cultivar both in the field (5.2%) and after drought modeling (22.4%). During the growing season, the distribution of precipitation and temperature during the passage of individual phenophases by apple plants influenced the overall water content in the leaf tissues. The decrease of the water content in the leaf tissues and the increase of water deficiency were observed when dry conditions occurred. The decrease of the water regime and water deficiency in leaves was notes to a greater extent during the formation of fruits. It was found that all of the studied apple cultivars had an average level of resistance to drought. The study of water regime parameters showed that Veniaminovskoye was characterized by more stable indices and this indicated greater resistance to drought.

Blooming under Mediterranean Climate: Estimating Cultivar-Specific Chill and Heat Requirements of Almond and Apple Trees Using a Statistical Approach

Climate change, and specifically global temperature increase, is expected to alter plant phenology. Temperate deciduous fruit trees have cultivar-specific chill and heat requirements to break dormancy and bloom. In this study, we aimed to estimate chill and heat requirements (in chill portions, CP, and growing degree hours, GDH, respectively) of 25 almond (30–36 years) and 12 apple (14–26 years) cultivars grown under a Mediterranean climate. The set included early and late blooming genotypes. Long-term phenological and temperature records were analyzed by means of partial least squares (PLS) regression. The main difference between early and late genotypes was chill requirement, ranging from 8.40 CP of early genotypes to 55.41 CP of extra-late genotypes. However, as chill requirements are quite easily attained by all almond cultivars in this study, year-to-year variations in actual blooming dates for each genotype are governed by variability of mean forcing temperatures. In contrast, different chill and heat combinations resulted in similar mean blooming dates for the studied apple cultivars. Mean temperature in both chilling and forcing phases determined their blooming time in the location studied. Overlaps and gaps between both phases were obtained. Despite some limitations, the PLS analysis has proven to be a useful tool to define both chilling and forcing phases. Nevertheless, since the delineation of these phases determine the total amount of CP and GDH, further efforts are needed to investigate the transition of these phases.

Cultivar and fruit size influence bruise susceptibility and some physical properties of apple fruit.

ABSTRACT- For most fruit types, including apples, bruising is the most common type of postharvest mechanical injury. Bruise susceptibility was investigated in 3 commercial cultivars (‘JazzTM’, ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Fuji’) and among a range of 4 different fruit sizes (commercial counts of 135, 120, 100, and 88) in each cultivar. Bruising was carried out by dropping a uniform round steel ball (110g) from a height of 30 cm through a vertical hollow PVC pipe onto the apples. Fruit physical properties and bruise assessments were evaluated. The results showed that ‘JazzTM’ and‘Granny Smith’ apples had the lowest and highest bruise susceptibility, respectively, indicating that ‘Granny Smith’ apple would be more likely to be bruised during harvest and post-harvest handling. Results also showed that smaller fruits were less susceptible to bruising. There was a positive significant correlation between fruit bruising and fruit volume; but, there were significant negative correlations between fruit bruising and fruit density, fruit firmness and fruit dry mater. These findings will be very useful to reduce the incidence of fruit damage of studied apple cultivars, which is of interest to both growers and operators of postharvest handling and marketing facilities.

Characterization of the Polyphenolic Profiles of Peel, Flesh and Leaves of Malus domestica Cultivars Using UHPLC-DAD-HESI-MSn

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of polyphenols extracted from 21 Malus domestica cultivars using ultra high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to heated electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection was performed for separation of 27 phenolic compounds on a reversed phase UHPLC column with an optimized gradient consisting of 1% formic acid in water and 1% formic acid in methanol within 20 minutes. According to retention times, UV maxima and mass spectra of the peaks in the chromatograms obtained from extracts of apple peel, flesh and leaves, the polypfienolic compounds were identified and quantified. Based on fragmentation patterns, 6 phenolic acids, 5 flavan-3-ols, 5 dihydrochalcones, 8 flavonols and 3 flavone derivatives were characterized in the studied samples. The method was then employed for analysis of the polyphenolic pattern of 21 apple cultivars, both commercial and autochthonous for the Macedonian region, as well as for monitoring the influence of long term storage on the polyphenolic content and composition of apple fruits and for comparison of polyphenolic profiles of apple cultivars during two years of harvesting. The obtained results revealed minor differences in the quality and major variation in the content of phenolic compounds in the flesh, peel and leaves in the studied apple cultivars that is attributed mainly to cultivar differences and meteorological factors.

Fruit quality of ‘Eva’ e ‘Princesa’ apples grown under nitrogen fertigation in semiarid climate

ABSTRACTThe production of high quality fruits is a necessary factor for the adaptation and production of plant species with economic viability. Thus, an experiment was conducted from July 2012 to January 2013 to evaluate the fruit quality of the ‘Eva’ and ‘Princesa’ apple cultivars as a function of nitrogen fertilization in Petrolina, PE, Brazil. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks, with treatments distributed in a factorial arrangement 2 x 4, corresponding to apple cultivars (Eva and Princesa) and nitrogen doses (40; 80; 120 and 160 kg of N ha-1), with four replications and three plants in each plot. The fruit characteristics, such as fruit mass, skin color (luminosity, chromaticity, and colour angle), size (width and length), pulp firmness, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids (SS) and the SS/TA ratio, were recorded. Nitrogen doses do not affect fruit quality of studied apple cultivars. The fruit quality attributes are different between apple cultivars: fruit firmness, SS/TA ratio, fruit mass and fruit diameter are superior for Princesa cultivar, while the fruit length for Eva cultivar is superior.

English

Antioxidants are considered as the main factors in the inhibition of unwanted oxidation reactions. In this research the antioxidant potential of the fresh fruits of 4 cultivars of Malus domestica cultivated in the Kashan, Qamsar area was evaluated. The antioxidant activity of the samples were evaluated using two complementary antioxidant assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene/linoleic acid tests and the results were compared with the synthetic standard antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Total phenolic contents of the samples are also estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol test. In both DPPH β-carotene/linoleic acid tests in the concentration of 2 mg/ml, only samples from Hossain cultivar showed moderate antioxidant activity with 63.92 ± 0.42 and 6.02 ± 0.03 inhibition percentages, respectively and other samples were only weekly active. The Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol test was also showed very little phenolic compounds for the fruits. In conclusion, week antioxidant activity was estimated for the studied apple cultivars. Key words: Apple, Malus domestica, extract, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Malus domestica fruit extract from Kashan area.

Many species of plants present noticeable potency against human bacterial and fungal pathogens. In the current study, antimicrobial activity of the fresh fruits of 4 cultivars (A to D) of Malus domestica cultivated in the Qamsar area of Kashan, Iran was investigated. The disk diffusion and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) evaluation antimicrobial activity tests were performed. The samples showed moderate antimicrobial activities with inhibition zones from 11 to 16 mm in these tests. Cultivar D with inhibition zones of 16, 14, and 12 mm for E. coli, S. epidermidis and K. pneumoniae, respectively exhibited the best results in these tests. Cultivar A also showed a zone of inhibition of 11 mm against P. aerouginosa. Moderate antimicrobial activities were observed for the studied apple cultivars.

How parasitoid sex ratio, size and emergence time are associated with fruit tree cultivar, within-orchard tree position and ants

The biocontrol potential of naturally occurring parasitoids is influenced by the parasitoids’ population and individual characteristics. We studied field determinants of characteristics of the parasitoid Scambus pomorum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) emerging from weevils (Anthonomus pomorum; Coleoptera: Curculionidae) hidden in damaged apple blossoms. The studied determinants comprised local-scale factors that can be managed by individual growers: tree cultivar, distance between apple trees and forest, and presence of ants. The studied parasitoid characteristics were sex ratio, body size and emergence time. Parasitoid sex ratio, in general female-biased, was significantly different for parasitoids emerging from hosts feeding on different apple cultivars. This finding suggests sex ratio adjustment driven by plant genotype-dependent variation in parasitoid host quality. The detected significant increase of sex ratio (more males) with increasing distance to forest might be explained by sperm depletion of ovipositing parasitoid females immigrating into the orchard. Exclusion of ants significantly increased female-bias in sex ratio in one of the studied apple cultivars. Body size of female and male parasitoids was significantly different between parasitoids emerging from different apple cultivars, supporting the view of cultivar-dependent variation in the quality of the parasitoid’s host. Distance to forest was positively correlated with parasitoid size, indicating farther dispersal of larger individuals. Emergence time varied significantly between apple cultivars, probably due to differences in plant phenology. By demonstrating that parasitoid characteristics vary widely within an orchard, this study shows that parasitoid characteristics that are relevant for biological control might be improved via appropriate management of the orchard and its immediate surroundings.

Self-incompatibility alleles of 104 apple cultivars grown in northern Europe

SummaryGametic self-incompatibility in apple is determined by a set of S-locus alleles, which can be identified using PCR with allele-specific DNA primers. Allele composition has previously been determined for a large number of apple cultivars grown in North America, central and southern Europe, and Asia. In the present study, 103 not previously studied apple cultivars that are grown mainly in northern Europe were scored for their S-allele composition in order to provide apple growers and breeders with information on incompatibility among cultivars. In addition, S-allele frequencies were determined in some control cultivars and compared with data reported previously. A different genotype was found for ‘Discovery’, which was therefore added to our list. The most common S-allele in the resulting set of 104 cultivars investigated at Balsgård was S7 (18%) followed by S3 (17%), S5 (14%), and S1 and S2 (both at 11%). Comparisons of allele frequencies obtained from previous compilations showed that the frequency of S9, in particular, deviated considerably; 15–16% was noted in two other studies, but only 1% in the Balsgård study. This discrepancy is most likely due to the importance of ‘Red Delicious’ (S9S28) in almost all areas of the World except northern Europe. A preponderance (30%) of the S3 allele was seen in a collection of 23 scab-resistant cultivars, suggesting that cross-compatibility may become a problem, especially in organic orchards.

USING SSR MARKERS TO DISTINGUISH APPLE CULTIVARS

The accessibility of reliable genetic markers is essential for variety identification and/or the development of efficient breeding methods to create new apple cultivars selected for disease resistance, fruit quality or tree growth characteristics etc. The emergence of PCR-based molecular markers such as RAPDs, SSRs, AFLPs has created the opportunity for fine-scale genetic characterizations of germplasm collections, as well. In this study a collection of 46 different commercial apple cultivars from the Research and Extension Centre for Fruit Growing, Ujfeherto (HU) were screened with 6 SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) primer-pairs. As few as four arbitrarily chosen microsatellite markers from the applied six were sufficient to unambiguously differentiate all the studied apple cultivars. Involvement of further primer pairs is necessary just in case of closely related group of cultivars.

INFLUENCE OF TECHNIQUES FOR STIMULATING THE APPLE SEEDLINGS GROWTH ON THE VARIETIES EARLY MATURITY IN A YOUNG GARDEN

The research was carried out in VNIISPK plantings, in a nursery and young orchard, on gray forest soils. All studied apple cultivars were grafted on a semi-dwarf rootstock 54-118. The reaction of apple cultivars to various methods of stimulating the growth and development of seedlings in the nursery was revealed. The influence of various agrotechnical techniques on the formation of lateral branches in annual apple seedlings was established. A significant increase in the number of seedlings with lateral branches was obtained by using a mechanical technique of pinching the tops of the growing shoots and in combination with the removal of the top three leaves. The use of non-root treatments contributed to a slight increase in lateral branching in the cultivars Bogatyr, Veteran and Rozhdestvenskoye, as well as had a positive effect on the overall development of the seedling and on improving the elemental composition of the leaves. The use of Rastvorin, Urea and Epin drugs contributed to a significant increase in the content of phosphorus, potassium, and calcium in the leaves of seedlings of the studied cultivars. Five apple cultivars, which seedlings were treated in the nursery with various stimulating drugs and techniques, were planted in the orchard for further observations. It was found that mechanical action and chemical stimulation of seedlings had different effects on the yield in the first years of fruiting. A significant increase in the yield for the first 4 years of fruiting was revealed with non-root treatment in the nursery with Rastvorin (0.5%) in the Svezhest cultivar, Rastvorin (0,5%) against the background of pinching the top of the seedling - in Rozhdestvenskoye and Sinap Orlovsky, as well as in Veteran when treated with Rastvorin (0.5%) or Epin (0.002%) in the variant with pinching the top and removing the top 3 leaves.