Apple rootstock evaluation in Grabouw (Vergelegen)

This project was initiated to assess the various new dwarfing and semi-dwarfing apple rootstocks (mostly from the Geneva range) that has recently become available against the industry standard M793, MM106, M25 and MM109.

The trial was conceived and designed by the Two-a-Day Technical Department with 8 rootstocks, grafted to ‘Fuji Suprema’, randomised in 9 blocks with 4 trees per treatment plot.  Every third tree in every third row was planted to ‘Granny Smith’ as pollinator.  Trial rows, each containing 3 complete blocks, are adjacent to the pollinator row. The trial was planted in December 2012 at Vergelegen Estate over 9 rows at a spacing of 4.5 x 1.5.  The site was previously used for apple production and was fumigated before planting.  Trees were stored in a cold room at 4ºC for 4 weeks before planting.  The soil type is a sandy Fernwood with 7% clay.

Due to irrigation and waterlogging problems after the establishment of the orchard, tree growth was very poor in the year after establishment.  After discussion at the Crop Production TAC and with the Technical Dept. of Two-a-Day, it was decided to terminate the project as it would not generate reliable data on rootstock performance.