Early Performance and Economic Value of Feathered Apple Trees on Semi-standard Rootstocks

Abstract

Abstract Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars Lawspur Rome Beauty (a terminal bearer), Smoothee Golden Delicious, and Redchief Delicious (a spur-type) on MM. 106 or MM.111 were planted as whips or feathered trees (branched during their initial year of growth in the nursery) with the feathers pruned or unpruned. During the first year of growth, feathered trees of ‘Lawspur’ made more new growth than trees planted as whips, and pruning the feathered trees further increased new growth. The branching status of trees at planting had no influence on the first year growth of ‘Redchief’ and ‘Smoothee’. Following the second growing season, feathered trees of ‘Lawspur’ and ‘Smoothee’ had increased trunk cross-sectional areas, but those of ‘Redchief’ were not significantly increased. In the third season, feathered trees of ‘Lawspur’ and ‘Smoothee’ produced higher yields than trees planted as whips. Feathered trees of ‘Smoothee’, left unpruned at planting, had higher yields than trees with the feathers pruned; however, the opposite was true with ‘Lawspur’. Average shoot growth of trees on MM. 106, planted as whips, was longer than on MM.111; however, the opposite was true with feathered trees. Total growth/tree on MM.111 was increased for feathered trees, but there was no effect of initial branching status on growth of trees on MM. 106. Calculation of present values indicated positive economic benefits resulting from planting feathered trees of both ‘Lawspur’ and ‘Smoothee’. There was no positive economic return generated by any of the treatments on ‘Redchief’ or ‘Smoothee’ planted as whips after 4 years of growth.