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 Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU): Geneva, NY
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ARS Home Northeast Area Geneva, New York Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) Docs







Characteristics of Apple Rootstockheadline bar Return to Apple Collection Home Page**Information provided by Paul Domoto, Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University and Dr. Jim Cummins, Cornell University (retired).****Rootstock**
**Size (1)**
**Fruiting**
**Anchorage**
**Hardiness**
**Soil Adaptability**
**Crown Rot**
**Fire Blight**
**Remarks****P.18**
+100%
Slow bearing, moderate productivity
Well anchored
Considered hardy, more testing needed
Widely adapted
Very resistant
Moderately resistant
Very little suckering, very few burrknots (2). May be susceptible to late winter freezes.**Seedling**
100%
Slow bearing, yield variable
Well anchored
Hardy
Widely adapted
Variable
Tolerant
65-85% size control with spur-type Red Delicious strains; some size control with other spur-type strains. Suckering may be a problem: very few burrknots (2).**Antonovka 313**
100%
Slow bearing, moderate productivity
Well anchored, but subject to leaning
Moderate
Widely adapted
Resistant
Moderately susceptible
Some suckering; few burrknots (2). Maybe susceptible to late winter freezes.**M.4**
80 - 85 %
Moderately early bearing, good productivity
Well anchored but, subject to leaning
Moderate
Widely adapted
Resistant
Tolerant
Most productive vigorous rootstock in regional testing. Moderate to heavy suckering; few burrknots (2).**MM.111**
80 - 85 %
Moderately slow bearing, medium prodctivity
Well anchored
Moderate
Adapted to most soils; drought tolerant, but does not tolerate wet feet
Tolerant on well drained soils
Tolerant
Tree form is more up-right. Little suckering; prone to burrknots (2). Semi-dwarf with spur-type Delicious strains. Moderately susceptible to tomato ringspot virus (3).**MM.106**
70 - 75 %
Early bearing, productive
Good on most soils
Very susceptible early, hardy late winter
Beast in loam and sandy loam soils. Avoid poorly drained soils
Very susceptible
Moderately susceptible
Very little suckering; prone to burrknots (2). Very susceptible to tomato virus ringspot (3).**B.490**
70 - 75 %
Early bearing, moderate productivity
Well anchored
Considered hardy; more testing needed
Well adapted to most soils
Moderately resistant
Tolerant
May be a replacement for MM.106. May be susceptible to late winter freezes. Almost no suckering; few burrknots (2)**Cornell - Geneva 210**
60 - 65 %
Early bearing, productive
Anchored questionable
Needs testing
Needs testing
Resistant
Resistant
Suckering may be a problem. May be released soon.**M.7a, EMLA 7**
60 - 65 %
Early bearing, moderate productivity
Free-standing but leans with some cultivars
Moderate; roots tender, snow cover for best protection
Well adapted on most soils except heavy clay
Slightly susceptible on poorly drained soils
Tolerant
Suckers heavily; somewhat prone to burrknots (2). Most widely adapted clonally propagated rootstock.**Geneva 30**
60 - 65 %
Earlier bearing and more productive than M.7a
Usually well anchored
Testing required
Well adapted to most soils
Tolerant
Resistant
Promising new rootstock. Much less prone to suckering than M.7a; burrknots (2) rare. Susceptible to common latent viruses (4). Available**M.26, EMLA 26**
55 - 60 %
Very early bearing, productive
May need support in early years
Hardiest M. or MM. series rootstock; somewhat slow to harden-off
Well drained soils
Moderately susceptible on poorly drained soils
Very susceptible
Very little suckering; very prone to burrknots (2). Susceptible to tomato ringspot virus (3). Compatibility problems have been identified with some cultivars**Geneva 11**
55 - 60 %
Very early bearing, very productive
May need support in early years
Testing required
Well adapted on most soils
Moderately resistant
Moderately resistant
Promising new rootstock. Little suckering; very few burrknots (2). Available**Ottawa 3 (O.3)**
50 - 55 %
Early bearing, very productive
May need support
As hardy as M.26
Well drained soils
Resistant on most soils
Susceptible
Roots poorly; may be a factor in orchard establishment. Moderate suckering; very few burrknots (2). Moderately susceptible to tomato ringspot virus (3) and common latent viruses (4)**EMLA 9**
45 - 50 %
Very early bearing, very productive
Needs support
Slightly hardier than M.7a
Well drained soils
Resistant on most soils
Very susceptible
Suckers heavily; prone to burrknots (2).**M.9, M.9 - T337 & other M.9 Strains**
40 - 45 %
Very early bearing, very productive
Needs support
Slightly hardier than M.7a
Well drained soils
Resistant on most soils
Very susceptible
Suckers heavily; prone to burrknots (2).**Geneva 16**
45 - 50 %
Very early bearing, very productive
Very good, support needed for crop
Needs testing
Needs testing
Tolerant
Very resistant
Very little suckering; no burrknots (2). Very sensitive to common latent viruses (4). Available**Mark**
35 - 45 %
Very early bearing, very productive
Roots are brittle, needs support
Hardy early, but susceptible in late winter
Best on well drained soils; drought susceptible
Resistant on most soils
Susceptible
Very prone to abnormal swelling of rootstock at ground line that stunts the tree. Moderate suckering; prone to burrknots (2). Moderately susceptible to tomato ringspot virus (3)**Bud. 9 (B.9)**
35 - 40 %
Very early bearing, very productive
Needs support
Hardier thaan M.9
Well drained soils, does not tolerate wet soils
Very resistant
Susceptible
Promising new rootstock. Some suckering; very few burrknots (2). Drought susceptible. Susceptible to tomato ringspot virus (3). ISU observations suggest it is very susceptible to voles.**Geneva 65**
35 - 40 %
Very early bearing, very productive. Fruit size reduced.
Well anchored, support needed for crop
Hardy
Needs testing
Resistant
Very resistant
Promising new rootstock. Some suckering; nearly no burrknots (2). Susceptible to apple stem grooving virus (4). Available.**P.2**
35 - 40 %
Very early bearing, very productive
Needs support
Needs further testing
Well drained soils
Resistant
Moderately susceptible
Very little suckering; few burrknots (2). Susceptible to tomato ringspot virus (3).**M.27, EMLA 27**
25 - 30 %
Very early bearing, very productive. Fruit size reduced
Needs support
Slow to harden-off
Well drained soils
Resistant on most soils
Susceptible
Too dwarfing for standard orchards; has potential for vigorous cultivars in very high density plantings. Almost no suckering or burrknots (2). Susceptible to tomato ringspot virus (3).**P.22**
25 - 30%
Very early bearing, productive
Needs support
Needs further testing
Well drained soils
Resistant
Moderately susceptible
Too dwarfing for standard orchards; has potential as a rootstock for vigorous cultivars in a very high density planting. Very little suckering; very few burrknots (2)**Interstem/ Rootstock****M.27, M.9/ MM.106**
50 - 60 % (5)
Early bearing, productive
Good in most soils; may need support on light soils or when the interstem-rootstock graft union is above ground
Slightly hardier with interstem-rootstock graft union is below ground
Well drained soils; better adapted with interstem-rootstock graft union below ground
Most tolerant with interstem-rootstock graft union below ground
Susceptible as M.27 or M.9
Suckering is a problem; can be reduced by planting interstem-rootstock graft union below ground. Additional cost**M.27, M.9/ MM.111**
50 - 60 % (5)
Early bearing, productive
Good in most soils; may need support on light soils or when the interstem-rootstock graft union is above ground
Moderate
Widely adapted to most soils
Tolerant on most soils
Susceptible as M.27 or M.9
Suckering is a problem; can be reduced by planting interstem-rootstock graft union below ground. Additional cost(1) Size control as a percentage of the size of a cultivar on a seedling rootstock. Remember that the vigor of the scion cultivar also influences the ultimate size of the tree on any rootstock.(2) Burrknots are above ground root primordia that form under shaded conditions (either from a truck wrap or excessive suckering). They are very sensitive to winter injury, and a potential point of entry for fire blight bacteria.(3) Tomato ringspot virus is a nematode-transmitted virus that can include Apple Union Necrosis and Decline disease when a sensitive cultivar is propagated on a sensitive rootstock. It has not yet been found in Iowa, but as a precaution, purchase virus-free trees. If the disease is ever found in your orchard, avoid combination of a sensitive cultivar propagated on a sensitive rootstock. Cultivars sensitive to tomato ringspot virus include: Red Delicious, McIntosh, Paulared, Spartan, Tydeman's Red, and Stayman.(4) Virus problems can be greatly reduced by selecting virus-free cultivars(5) Used as interstems, M.27 and M.9 produce similar sized trees. With the present propagation practice of using 6- to 8-inch interstem sections, relative tree size is more dependent upon planting depth: With the interstem-rootstock graft union above the ground, tree size between M.9 and M.26; with the interstem-rootstock graft union below ground, tree size is between M.26 and M.7a and depends upon how much of the interstem is exposed.


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