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Apple is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. In Brazil, apple is the deciduous fruit of major importance. Its production is focused in the southern region of the country. To increase apple tree yield and to optimize fruit quality, it is important to choose a suitable training system to obtain greater light interception and photosynthetic radiation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate vegetative and productive aspects of the cultivar Maxi Gala grafted on seven-year-old dwarf rootstock M.9, under three different training systems: Tall Spindle, Solaxe and Vertical Axis. The experimental orchard was implemented in August, 2010 in Vacaria city, Rio Grande do Sul province, Brazil. The experiment was conducted and evaluated in (2014-2017) seasons. The results showed that Tall Spindle, Solaxe and Vertical Axis driving systems had no effect on internode length, plant height, fruit diameter and quality parameters such as pulp firmness and soluble solids. Therefore, the Tall Spindle driving system was more efficient for accumulative production, being this the indicated combination for regions with the edaphoclimatic characteristics like those of the orchard under study.

Geneva® rootstocks in Brazil are known to be efficient in controlling vigor, and are precocious and resistant to diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of apple tree cultivars grafted on the Geneva® rootstocks in severe replant disease areas, by planting 60 days after the eradication. The experiments were implemented in 2017, in São Joaquim and Vacaria. The Gala Select and Fuji Suprema cultivars were grafted onto ‘G.202’, ‘G.814’, ‘G.210’, and ‘G.213’ rootstocks in the Tall Spindle training system. In 2018/2019, total thinning was carried out to promote plant growth. In São Joaquim, partial thinning was carried out in 2019/2020 harvest of ‘Gala Select’. The rootstocks were divided into two groups based on vigor, for both areas and cultivars. ‘G.202’ and ‘G.213’ were 40% less vigorous than ‘G.210’ and ‘G.814’. For ‘Gala Select’, the extreme non-fallow condition mainly affected the vigor and productivity of ‘G.213’ in both areas. At the end of two harvests, ‘G.213’ was 17% less productive than ‘G.210’, contrary to what is observed in areas where the fallow period is respected. However, ‘G.213’ confirmed a greater yield efficiency, which was 27% higher than ‘G.210’. This suggests that a perspective of forecasting production for the third crop is higher for ‘G.213’ than for ‘G.210’. In the case of ‘Fuji Suprema’, the G.210 rootstock was the most productive in both areas. In São Joaquim, ‘G.202’ matched ‘G.210’ in productivity and efficiency as it sprouts better in colder regions. Considering the fruit quality, ‘G.213’ anticipated the maturation with fruits of larger size and higher total soluble solids (TSS) in both areas and cultivars, making it possible to anticipate the harvest. It was concluded that the non-fallow condition does not alter the relative differences in vigor and fruit quality among the rootstocks. However, notwithstanding the overall replant tolerance of these rootstocks, it does reduce productivity by mainly affecting less vigorous rootstocks that need about three crops to overcome the allelopathic effects of the soil and start growing normally. The G.210 semi-dwarfing rootstock is an alternative for the immediate conversion of apple orchards of Gala Select and Fuji Suprema cultivars in southern Brazil.