INTERSTOCK EFFECTS UPON APPLE LEAF AND FRUIT MINERAL CONTENT

Abstract

To study interstock effects upon mineral content of apples, four cultivars, Golden Delicious, Delicious, McIntosh and Spartan, were used as scions and interstocks in 16 combinations on M9 rootstock. N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn were analyzed in leaves from 1971 to 1975 and Ca, Mg and K in fruits in 1975. There were many scion effects. Accumulation of P and Fe in the leaves and K and Ca in the fruits was greater in Delicious than in the other cultivars. Leaf levels of Ca and Mg were greatest in Golden Delicious. Leaf Zn, K or N content differed slightly among the cultivars. There were but slight interstock effects or scion × interstock interactions. Hence, leaf and fruit nutrition did not depend upon the interstock.