Growth behaviour of apple cultivars on different apple rootstock

Abstract

The growth behavior of apple cultivars on apple rootstocks was investigated at Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) Swat during 2012. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two factors factorial arrangements having rootstocks (MM111, MM106, M26, M9 and Crab Apple) and apple cultivars (Treco Gala, Spartan, Mondial Gala, Royal Gala and Gala Must) replicated three times. Apple cultivar Gala Must significantly (P>0.05) showed maximum leaf area (33.62cm 2 ) and root length (10.49 cm), while cultivar Treco Gala showed earliest sprouting (44.93 days) and maximum number of branches (1.60) plant -1 . On the other hand rootstocks significantly (P>0.05) effected different parameters. Rootstock Crab Apple showed maximum leaf area (27.81cm 2 ) and root length (18.87 cm). While early sprouting (43.60days) and maximum number of branches (1.53) plant -1 was recorded on rootstock MM106 and M26 respectively. Significant interaction was observed between rootstocks and cultivars for some of the growth parameters however greater leaf area (40.8 cm 2 ) and root length (20.1 cm) was recorded in cultivar Gala Must grafted on apple rootstock Crab Apple, while maximum number of shoots (1.79) plant -1 was noted in cultivar Treco Gala grafted on rootstock M-26. Crab apple rootstock and cultivar Gala Must showed best result in most growth parameters and thus is recommended for better growth of apple plants.