The Strengths and Weaknesses of Geneva Apple

Rootstocks

Terence Robinson, Gennaro Fazio, Herb Aldwinckle Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell University Geneva, New York, 14456

USDA-ARS, Plant Genetics Resources Unit, Geneva, NY 14456

Leo Dominguez, Rafael Parra, Darius Kviklys, Brent Black, Richard Adams, Stuart Adams, Tom Auvil, Ian Merwin

Keys to Successful New Apple Orchards

• Plant high-tree densities (optimum 1,000-

1800 trees/acre).

• Produce high early yields (3,000 bu/acre

over the first 5 years).

• Grow the trees rapidly to fill the allotted

space in the first 3 years.

• Produce high mature yields (>1200

bu/acre) of high quality fruit.

• Poor tree growth due to replant disease in

the first 3 years jeopardizes the economic

success of the new orchard.

Strengths: 1) Apple Replant Disease Tolerance

Geneva Replant Disease Evaluation of 38 Genotypes

Kviklys et al

Rootstock Tolerance to Replant Disease in Potted Trees

Kviklys et al

Field Tolerance to Replant Disease at 8 Locations in North America

Robinson et al.

0

10

20

30

G.1

6

G.4

1

G.4

210

B.9

G.3

0

M.9

T33

7

G.2

10

G.9

35

G.11

M.9

Pajam

2

M.7

M.2

6

% I

ncr

ease

in

TC

A d

ue

to F

um

iga

tion

Growth of Gala in a Replant SoilWashington State

Data from Auvil et al. 2010

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

G.9

35

G.4

1 G

.16

B.9

G

.214

M

.9Paj

2 M

.26

Supp

2 G

.11

Supp

3 Su

pp1

M.9

Nic

29

% I

ncr

ease

in

Gro

wth

du

e to

Fu

mig

ati

on

Early Yield Improvement of Gala due to Fumigation in a Replant Soil

Washington State

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

G.9

35

G.2

14

G.4

1

M.9

Paj2

Bud

.9

G.1

6

Sup1

M.9

Nic

29

M.2

6

G.11

Sup3

Sup2

% I

ncr

ease

in

Yie

ld d

ue

to

Fu

mig

ati

on

Rootstock

WAPATO 2006-2007 Cumulative Yield Per Tree (Kg)

Data from Fazio

Summary of Replant Resistance Studies

Study G.11 G.41 G.214 G.935 G.210 G.30 M.9 M.26

Robinson 1991 -- T -- T R R S S

Isutsas 2000 S -- -- -- R R -- --

Laurent 2010 -- S -- R R S S R

Kviklys 2012 R R R T -- R S S

White 2000 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- R

Robinson 2012 T R -- T T R T S

Auvil 2010(Wapato) T R T R -- -- -- T

Auvil 2010(Chelan) -- R -- R -- -- S S

Average T R R R R R S S

Summary• Several Geneva® rootstocks appear to have tolerance/resistance to

apple replant disease. – G.11

– G.41

– G.214

– G.935

– G.202

– G.210

• The resistance may be due to the initial screening for Phytopthora

disease which may also have selected for tolerance to other soil

microorganisms.

• Resistant rootstocks show an improvement in yield due to fumigation.

• The variation around the world in soil organisms which cause apple

replant disease may result in variable orchard results with the resistant

rootstocks.

2. Fire Blight Resistance

Infection

• Infection of Rootstocks is a Major

Problem in the USA

• Infection of susceptible rootstocks

results in the death of the tree

The Geneva® rootstocks

are much more resistant

to fire blight than most

other rootstocks.

Rootstock Blight Development after Inoculation of Gala Trees on

Various Rootstocks

Summary of Fire Blight Inoculation Trials

• G.16, G.41, G.214 and G.202 are highly resistant to fire blight

but may not be resistant to all strains of fire blight.

• G.11, G.65 and G.935 are resistant to field inoculations of the

scion with fire blight.

3. Yield potential of the Geneva Rootstocks

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Bud

9

CG

4003

G11

M93

37

M9P

ajam

2

Bud

10

G41

M26

Sup3

G93

5

CG

4214

CG

5202

CG

4814

CG

5087

G20

2

CG

4004

CG

4013

Bud

6753

2

CG

3001

5-Y

ear

Cu

mu

lati

ve

Yie

ld (

t/h

a)

Example

G.814=152t/ha

B.9=77t/ha

Diff.=75t/ha

Value=$56,850/ac

Honeycrisp

Performance of Golden Delicious with Geneva Rootstocks after 10

years (Cahoon Plot)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

M2

7C

G2034

CG

4202

JM4

CG

4088

CG

5757

CG

2406

CG

2022

CG

5030

CG

11

M9

CG

3007

PiA

u5111

CG

4003

CG

6874

CG

4214

M26

JM10

CG

4004

CG

7480

CG

4019

CG

4049

CG

6969

CG

5087

CG

5202

CG

8534

CG

4814

JM1

CG

4011

CG

5935

CG

6006

CG

5257

MM

106

CG

5012 M

7C

G6210

CG

6879

CG

8189

PiA

u514

PiA

u568

CG

6976

B118

CG

5890

CG

6001

CG

6253

CG

4013

JTE

BJM

2

CG

4213

JTE

CC

G5463

CG

6589

CG

6024

Tru

nk

X-S

ect.

Are

a (

cm2)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Yie

ld E

ffic

ien

cy (

kg/c

m2T

CA

)

Performance of Fuji with 53 Rootstocks (Crist Bros. Plot)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

P.22

G.6

5

B.9

Eu

rope

B.9

US

A

M.2

7

G.1

1

CG

.30

07

G.4

1

G.9

35

G.1

6

CG

.40

13

M.9

M.9

T3

37

Sup

.4

M.9

Paj

am1

M.9

EM

LA

M.9

Nic

29

M.9

Nic

8

O.3

M.2

6

M.9

Paj

am2

CG

.62

10

Yie

ld E

ffic

ien

cy

Tru

nk

X-S

ect.

Are

a

Trunk X-Sect. Area

Yield Efficiency

Geneva

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

P.22

G.6

5

B.9

Eu

rope

M.2

7

B.9

US

A

CG

.40

13

M.9

Paj

am1

M.9

T3

37

M.9

M.9

EM

LA

G.1

1

M.9

Nic

29

CG

.30

07

M.9

Nic

8

Sup

.4

G.4

1

M.9

Paj

am2

O.3

G.1

6

M.2

6

G.9

35

Yie

ld E

ffic

ien

cy

Tru

nk

X-S

ect.

Are

a

Trunk X-Sect. Area

Yield Efficiency

Peru

4. Cold Hardiness

In the cold snap of 2004

and 2005, G.16, G.30,

G.41 and G.935 had the

best survival

G.41 and G.935 seem

well adapted to the cool

climate of the Champlain

Valley

5. Woolly Aphid Resistance

Several Geneva stocks are resistant but some are not

Resistant Susceptible

G.41 G.11

G.214 G.935

G.202

G.210

G.969

G.222

G.890

Weaknesses: 1. Propagation of Geneva® Rootstocks

• Several Geneva Rootstocks root poorly in the stoolbed.

• We have conducted research to improve stoolbed performance

- Regalis treatment of stoolbed

- Tissue Culture to induce greater juvenility in stoolbed

- Tissue Culture plants as rootstocks

Rooting of G.41 Apple Rootstock from tissue culture plants

Propagation by Cuttings is Expanding

Typical Rooting of G.41

Weaknesses: 2) Graft Union Strength

• Some Geneva Rootstocks have a more brittle graft

union with certain varieties.

Honeycrisp

Envy

Crimson Crisp

Graft union breaks of M.9Nic29 and G.41 with Scilate (Envy) as the scion variety

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

Budup Buddown WTstacked

WTsideways

Saddlestacked Saddlesideways

N/cm^2

HC/G.41Avg.forcepergra CSAtobreakgra

June

August

October

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

Budup Buddown WTstacked

WTsideways

Saddlestacked Saddlesideways

N/cm^2

HC/Nic.29Avg.forcepergra CSAtobreakgra

June

August

October

Graft Union strength of Honeycrisp on G.41 and M.9Nic29 in the Nursery

Graft Union strength of 39 rootstocks with Gala as the scion in the Nursery

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

6589

8534

4002

MM

106

5463

4213

7707

M7

7037

5012

6253

4004

4049

G16

6001

5179

7480

6879

G11

5757

6874

2406

6210

5257

5046

G30

5202

M9

5030

4214

6143

4013

4288

4011

4003

4021

5890

6969

6006

2633 2 3918 9 3237301225 4 8 3521153128341927 1 241714361638131023 6 11 5 3 7 202922

Rootstock

Ben

din

g S

tress (

N c

m-2)

a a

b

a

b

c

a

b

c

d

a

b

c

d

a

b

c

d

a

b

c

d

a

b

c

d

a

b

c

d

a

b

c

d

a

b

c

d

a

b

c

d

a

b

c

db

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

d

b

c

dc

d d

ddddd

0

50

100

150

200

250

Nor

ther

n Spy

Fuji Red

Spo

rt

Gol

den D

elicious

Gra

nny

Sm

ith

Nov

a Eas

y G

row

Idar

ed

Whi

te A

ngel

Gal

a

Har

also

n

Gra

vens

tein

Was

hing

ton

Red

Anna

Rho

de Is

land

Gre

ening

Jona

than

Rom

e Bea

uty

Cox

's O

rang

e Pip

pen

Yello

w T

rans

paren

t

Spoka

ne B

eaut

y

Nov

osibirs

ki S

wee

t

Wijc

ik M

cInt

osh

Jam

es G

rieve

Cultivars Grafted on G30

Be

nd

ing

Str

es

s (

N c

m-2

)a

ababc a-d

a-d a-d

a-e a-e b-e c-f c-f c-fc-f

d-f d-fefg

efgfg

g g

Graft Union strength of G.30 with 20 scion varieties in the Nursery

y = 59.732Ln(x) - 33.263

R2 = 0.9827

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

0 50 100 150 200 250

TCSA (cm2)

Be

nd

ing

Str

es

s (

N c

m-2

)

Honeycrisp/G30 one-year-old

Gala/G30 four-years-old

Gala/G30 ten-years-old

Graft Union strength of G.30 over 10 years

M.27 SizeM.9 T337

M.26 Size

M.7-MM106 Size

Seedling Size

G.65 G.41

G.16G.202 G.30

G.210G.214

M.9 PAJ 2

G.11 G.935

G.969 G.890

G.213

G.222

Released Geneva® Apple Rootstocks Arranged by Tree Size

G.814

Commercialization of Geneva® Rootstocks in North America• Licensed Nurseries:

Willow Drive Nursery (Washington)

Willamette Nursery (Oregon)

North American Plants (Oregon)

Treco (Oregon)

Kit Johnston (Oregon)

Todd Cameron (Washington)

Copenhaven (Oregon)

Mori Nursery (Canada)

KCK Farms (Oregon)

Van Well Nursery (Oregon)

Helios Nursery (Washington)

Pyteligence (Washington)

ProTree (California)

Crown Nursery (Washington)

Consortio Sacramento (Mexico)

• RootstocksG.11 G.41

G.214 G.935 G.222

G.202 G.969

G.30 G.210 G.890

Geneva Rootstock Liner Production in the USA

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Lin

ers

Pro

du

ctio

n (

nu

mb

er)

G.11

G.41

G.935

G.16

G.30

G.202

G.11• Tree size similar to M.9 T337.

• Very high yield efficiency

• Large fruit size

• Tolerant to Replant Disease

• Resistant to Fire Blight but not immune.

• Resistant to Crown Rot

• Susceptible to Wooly Apple Aphid

• Good rooting in stoolbed

Geneva® 11 M9-T337

G.41• M.9 vigor

• Very high yield efficient

• Highly productive

• Very precocious

• Resistant to replant disease

• Very cold hardy

• Does well in warmer climates (Mexico)

• Highly Resistant to Fire Blight and Crown Rot and Wooly Apple Aphid

• Requires tissue culture mother plants for stoolbed

G.41 Fuji

G.935

• Vigor intermediate between M.9

Pajam 2 and M.26

• Very high yield efficiency

• Very cold hardy

• Resistant to Replant Disease

• Resistant to Fire Blight and Crown

Rot

• Susceptible to Wooly Apple Aphid

G.202

• Size similar to M.26

• Precocious, productive

• Resistant to woolly apple aphid, fire blight, and crown rot

• Tolerant to apple replant disease

• Good choice for weak growing cultivars like Honeycrisp

• Moderate rooting in stoolbed

G.202 New Zealand

G.214 Washington

G.214

Vigor similar to M.9 Pajam2

Highly yield efficient

Highly productive

Good precocity

Tolerant to replant disease

Resistant to Fire Blight, Crown Rot and Wooly Apple Aphid

Very good stool bed propagation

No commercial production of liners.

G.969

• Vigor between M.26 y M.7

• Very efficient and productive

• Very cold tolerant

• Resistant to fire blight

• Resistant to Phytopthora

• Resistant to Woolly Apple Aphid

• Good Anchorage

• Excellent rootstock for weak scions like

Honeycrisp

G.210

G.210• Vigor between M.7 and MM.106

• Precocious, productive

• Yield efficiency similar or better than M.9

• Resistant to apple replant disease.

• Resistance to woolly apple aphid, fire blight, and crown rot.

• Good rooting in stoolbed few spines.

• Mostly for Organic Production

With Several New Rootstock Options of Varying Vigor Levels

the Challenge Becomes Selecting the Rootstock that Gives the

Best Combination of Growth and Yield for the Variety We are

Planting

G.11 for strong varieties

G.41 for weak varieties or

replant

G.935 or G.202 for very

weak varieties

Questions?

Fuji/G.41 Fuji/G.214