With rising cost of production there has been great interest by fruit growers in small trees. Dwarf apple trees have grown commercially in Korea since 1973. Many researchers and fruit growers are interested in the growth and precocity of dwarfing apple trees but pay little attention to their root system.
This paper describes an investigation into the effects of dwarfing rootstocks (M9, M26 and MM 106) on the growth (tree height, width, trunk circumference and numbers of flower bud) and root system of 6-year-old Fuji apple trees. The effects of rootstocks (M26 and MM 106), cultivars (Fuji and Spur Earli Blaze) and localities (Cheonan and Icheon) on the growth and root distribution (root width and depth) of 6-year-old apple trees were also investigated.
Dwarfing characteristics of size-control rootstocks (M9, M26 and MM 106) were tho same as earlier supposed and reported. M9 was the most dwarfing rootstocks for Fuji apples. MM 106 rootstock produced a tree slightly larger than M26 rootstock.
As for the horizontal and vertical root distribution, 6-year-old Fuji on M9 showed 267㎝ spread and 91㎝ depth. The root system of Fuji on M26 showed 470㎝ spread and 116㎝ depth. As for the root distribution, Fuji on MM106 showed 510㎝ spread and reached 116㎝ deep.
The root system of MM106 rootstock was slightly larger than its of M26.
M26 rootstocks have a little degree of the tree growth and root development with Fuji and Spur Earli Blaze than those of MM106 rootstocks.
The tree growth and root development of Fuji on M26 were slightly larger than those of Spur EarliBlaze on M26.
|