Productivity potential of the Melba apple variety on rootstocks of different growth strengths

Abstract

The article presents the results of a five-year study of the yield of the Melba apple variety on dwarf, semi-dwarf and medium-sized rootstocks selected by the North Caucasus Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture, Viticulture, and Winemaking (SKFNCSVV). The aim of the research is to study the influence of rootstocks of different growth strengths on the productivity potential of the Melba apple variety in the natural and climatic conditions of the Astrakhan region. The research revealed the influence of the rootstock genotype on the main productivity indicators: perishability, yield, frequency of fruiting, stability of productivity, marketable qualities of fruits. The early fruitfulness of the variety was most affected by the dwarf subspecies SK 3, SK 7 and semi-dwarf SK 2, on which 60–100% of the trees bloomed in the first year of growth in the garden. Among the studied combinations, the highest rates of crop growth in the Melba variety were noted on the dwarf rootstock SK 3 and semi-dwarf SK 2, in combination with which the variety was characterized by maximum values of average (19.4–16.3 t/ha) and total yield (97.2–81.6 t/ha), with the values of these indicators on the control variants 16.0–10.6 t/ha and 80.2–53.1 t/ha respectively. Low indicators of the periodicity index were noted on the dwarf rootstock SK 3 (15.6) and semi-dwarf rootstock: control M 26 (23.0), SK 2 (20.0), SK 5 (27.5), high index of productivity stability (0.75–0.86) – on rootstocks SK 3, SK 2 and SK 5. In the arid conditions of the Astrakhan region, the zoned variety Melba is recommended to be grown in an intensive garden on rootstocks SK 3 and SK 2, which ensure regular and stable yields.