Getting to the root of it: How rootstocks influence apple trees

October 22, 2018

       

Image of a row of apple trees in a U of M rootstock research planting.

       

By
Dr. Emily E. Hoover and Emily Tepe

 

image of graft union
The graft union of an apple tree is recognizable as a bulge in the trunk a few inches above the soil. Photo by Emily Hoover.

Grafting is defined as the fusion of plants so the resulting plant functions as a single unit. Grafting plants has been practiced for thousands of years, and this process allowed for the domestication of woody fruit trees. When the graft heals, the resulting plant has two distinct parts. The shoot system is referred to as the scion, and the root system is the rootstock. Commercially grafted apple trees consist of a single graft union between a rootstock and a scion, which is easily identified on a young tree by a distinct bulge in the trunk a few inches above the ground. From a genetic perspective, grafting involves the creation of a compound genetic system by uniting two distinct genetic systems, each of which maintains its own genetic identity throughout the life of the grafted plant. 

Sometimes size is everything

There has been a lot of research done on apple rootstocks - particularly in determining the effect of tree size and time to first harvest. Apples are one of the few fruit crops in which the rootstock has the ability to induce dwarfing of the scion cultivar. Thus, apple rootstocks are divided into groups based on the ability to dwarf the scion. Rootstocks that limit tree size to 15-45% standard are considered dwarf; 50-75% standard size are semi-dwarf; and anything above 85% is usually referred to as standard.

illustrated graph of the relative size of some common apple rootstocks
Relative sizes of apple trees grafted on common rootstocks. Image from Rootstocks for Apple, Washington State University (http://treefruit.wsu.edu/web-article/apple-rootstocks/).
A seedling tree is still grafted, but is grafted on a rootstock that does not control the size of the scion. If trees on seedling rootstocks are not annually pruned to contain tree size, the trees would be 30 to 40 feet in height with a similar spread. Many people will remember orchards planted in the mid 1900s with broadly spaced large trees that required a tall ladder or some creative climbing in order to harvest fruit.
 
Image of old apple orchard showing standard size trees. Image by Mark Shirley via Flickr.
Standard size apple trees require a lot of pruning to control their size.  "The Old Apple Orchard, Wisbech St. Mary" by Mark Shirley, licensed under CC BY 2.0 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/75976021@N00/2197983980/).
Contrast that picture with trees that are planted on size controlling rootstocks. Depending on the rootstock, a mature apple tree can vary from 6 feet to 25 feet tall. Same scion cultivar; the only difference is the genetics of the root system. This allows growers to plant trees as closely as 2 feet between trees in a row, and contain the growth of the trees with minimal annual pruning. The trees' smaller size also means more efficient management, easier pruning, and faster, safer harvesting. 
Image of apple orchard with Honeycrisp apple trees grafted on dwarfing rootstocks.
Apple trees on dwarfing rootstocks can be planted very close together, making management faster and easier. Photo by Emily Hoover.

Smaller tree, earlier fruit

Another factor influenced by rootstock is precocity, which is the scion’s ability to bloom and produce fruit earlier in the life of the tree. This trait in rootstocks can vary the timing of the first harvest. The trend is as the rootstock induces more dwarfing, the scion will flower earlier in the life of the orchard and thus produce fruit sooner. For example, a cultivar grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock may induce flowering 5 or more years earlier in the life of the tree than the same scion on a seedling rootstock. 

 

Rootstock research planting with Honeycrisp showing size effects of different rootstocks.
In the sixth year of this rootstock research planting, it is easy to see how rootstock affects the size of the tree. Photo by Emily Hoover.

In search of the elusive perfect rootstock

Research done with apple rootstocks at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Horticultural Science began as part of the NC140 trial in the 1980s. The NC140 project is a group of researchers and extension educators that work together to answer questions about rootstock performance in select areas of the United States and Canada. The main objective is to evaluate the influence of rootstocks under varying environments and training systems using sustainable management practices. The apple rootstock plantings at the University of Minnesota have all been located at the Horticultural Research Center, part of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Our site experiences the coldest mid-winter temperatures across all locations. The challenge of working across North America is evaluating the rootstock performance with a scion cultivar that will be able to withstand the mid-winter cold. Thus, many of the trials have used Honeycrisp as the scion since it was developed by the University of Minnesota and thus is reliably winter hardy here.

The use of this one cultivar does, however, complicate the results of the rootstock trials. Honeycrisp is known to be genetically more dwarfing than other cultivars, before even considering the effect of rootstock. Therefore the results for tree size on various rootstocks may not be directly applicable to other more vigorous cultivars.  For instance, a highly dwarfing rootstock such as B.9 might be recommended for a more inherently vigorous cultivar like Zestar!®, but is not recommended for use with Honeycrisp because it induces extremely small trees. We recommend a less-dwarfing rootstock such as G. 30 for Honeycrisp as it allows the cultivar to grow vigorously in the first few years to establish a tree that can produce fruit in a fairly short period of time.

Rootstocks have many other characteristics that are considered in our research as well as in commercial and home production settings. Different rootstocks have varying degrees of influence on the tree’s longevity, productivity, tolerance of adverse soil conditions, susceptibility to certain diseases, suckering, root anchoring and breakage potential. Because there are so many factors, it’s nearly impossible to find a "perfect" rootstock. That’s why new rootstocks are continually developed, and why they are tested in so many different places. Our goal is to help farmers and gardeners find rootstocks that are appropriate for their climate and their goals.

More info on apples and apple rootstocks:

Here are some things to consider before you start an apple orchard.

University of Minnesota Extension offers practical information on growing apples in the home garden.

To find out even more about rootstocks, take a look at the articles within Apple Rootstocks: Understanding and Choosing the Right Rootstock, developed by U of M researchers and partner institutions, hosted by eXtension.org

Find details about individual rootstocks in Apple Rootstock Characteristics and Descriptions, developed by U of M researchers and partner institutions, hosted by eXtension.org.

Learn about the rootstock research being conducted by the NC-140 Regional Rootstock Research Project

References:

Mudge, K., J. Janick, S. Scofield, E.E. Goldschmidt. 2009. The History of Grafting. In: Horticultural Reviews, Volume 35. Edited by J. Janick.

Janik. E. 2011. How the apple took over the planet. 

       

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