Apple Rootstocks for the 1990's 



Wesley R. Autio and Duane W. Greene 



Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts 



The ideal apple tree is determined by fitting the 

 rootstock with the cultivar, site, training system, and the 

 orchardist's perception of what makes a good tree. The 

 introduction of a number of new rootstocks presents fruit 

 growers with many options for the future. Many of these 

 rootstocks are not tested, although research is being 

 conducted around the world to evaluate them. The 

 purpose of this article is to report on the results of 2 NC- 

 140 Rootstock Research Committee plantings in 

 Massachusetts that contain some of the most promising 



new rootstocks. 



The most thorough and extensive evaluation of 

 rootstocks in North America is carried out through the 

 NC-140 Rootstock Research Committee. This committee 

 is a group of approximately 50 pomologists from the U.S. 

 and Canada. Each year the group meets to share data and 

 observations on present plantings and to plan future, 

 cooperative, uniform plantings. At present 2 apple 

 rootstock plantings are in the ground, and 2 new plantings 

 are scheduled for 1990. The oldest of the two plantings was 



11 



