Apple Orchard Systems: Tree Density,

Rootstocks and Pruning Systems

Terence Robinson and Steve Hoying

Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456

Umbrella tree (100 trees / ha) Central Leader (500 trees / ha )

Slender Spindle (1,500 trees / ha)

The evolution of orchard systems in the USA

Vertical Axis (1,200 trees / ha)

Tall Spindle (2,500 trees / ha )

Pedestrian Orchards -1980’s Multiple Rows using M.9

Moderate yields and moderate light

interception

High yields but poor quality fruit in the

middle row

High yields and

high light

interception

Geneva Y trellis/M.26

Vertical Axis- 1,500 trees/ha

In the late 1980’s tall orchards (again)

Precision V-trellis 2,000 trees/ha

Mid -1990’s - Super High Densities (5,000 trees/ha)

Super Spindle / M.9 V Super Spindle/M.9

Late 1990’s-

Tall Spindle/M.9

0

50

100

150

200

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Year

Effect of Tree Density on Cumulative Yield

5382 Tree/ha

3262 Trees/ha

2243 Trees/ha

1655 Trees/ha

1283 Trees/ha

1026 Trees/ha

840 Trees/ha

598 Trees/ha

0

50

100

150

200

250

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

Tree Density (trees/ha)

Effect of Tree Density on 7 Yr. Cumulative Yield

McIntosh

Gala

Fuji

Empire

Tree density had a highly significant negative effect on cumulative yield per

tree but a highly significant positive effect on yield per ha. The cumulative

yield per ha of the highest tree density was 3X greater than the lowest density

Geneva Y-trellis/M.26

50

100

150

200

250

300

20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Canopy Light Interception (%)

Pal. Trellis

Y-trellis

Sl. Spindle

Vert. Axis

y = -20 + 4.4x

r2 = 0.84

成熟的果园产量更高 (1,500-2,000蒲式耳/英亩)

伸手即摘果园的采光量中等，产量也中等，

除非行间距 7-8 英尺 （210-240 cm)

高树截光更多，

产量也更大

70-75% 的采光量最佳

树高= 行间距 * 0.9 会达到 70-75% 的采光量

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

1,100

5 10 15 20

Year

Annual Yield of 5 Systems

Super Spindle (2178 tr/ac)

Tall Spindle (1340 tr/ac)

Vertical Axis (908 tr/ac)

Vertical Axis (622 tr/ac)

Central Leader (340 tr/ac)

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Tree Density (trees/acre)

NP

V 2

0 y

ears

($

/acr

e)

2010

2003

Profitability of Apple Orchards in NY over 20 Years

The answer depends on price

What is the optimum planting density?

-15,000

-10,000

-5,000

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Tree Density (trees/acre)

NP

V 2

0 y

ears

($

/acr

e) $10/bushel

$8/bushel

$6/bushel

• Our results indicate that the New York growers should increase planting density

from 1,500 trees/ha to 2,500-3,300 trees/ha in a system we call the “Tall Spindle”

Economic Summary

Apple Rootstocks: The Foundation of High-Density

Orchards

Benefits of Dwarfing Rootstocks •Early of cropping (precocity)

• Shorter time to payback initial

investment

•Improved yield/unit land area

(productivity) • Annual profitability

•Reduced tree size (dwarfing level) • Ease and cost of spraying

• Ease and cost of picking

• Ease and cost of pruning

The Apple Tree

Vegetative

Parts

Fruit

Leaf

Solar Radiation

Rootstock

Amount of Fruit (kg)

Trunk Cross-Sectional Area

(cm2) % Light Interception

Seedling Rootstocks promote production of wood

Dwarfing rootstock promote production of fruit

Current Apple Rootstocks:

• Currently in the United States the most common apple rootstocks are M.9, M.26, B.9.

• 60% of the rootstocks are M.9,

• 20% are B.9,

• 10% are M.26,

• 4% are M.7,

• 3% are MM.111

• In China most apple rootstocks are seedling

Challenges with Current Apple Rootstocks:

• Over the last 60 years, growers worldwide have used the Malling series of rootstocks from England. However their limitations are:

• lack of winter hardiness,

• lack of resistance to Phytophthora root rot,

• susceptibility to fire blight bacterial disease,

• burrknots,

• poor anchorage,

• root suckers,

• sensitivity to apple replant disease,

• brittle graft unions.

• lack of precocity.

The Geneva Apple Rootstock Breeding and

Development Program

Joint Program with USDA and Cornell University

Dr. Gennaro Fazio, Herb Aldwinckle and Terence Robinson

Goal: Produce a series of rootstocks which are resistant to important rootstock

diseases and insects that are dwarfing, productive and efficient.

• Resistance to fire blight

• Resistance to Phytophthora root rot

• Resistance to woolly apple aphid

• Cold tolerant

• Resistant to apple replant disease.

The Geneva® rootstocks are a distinct genetic group

from most commercial rootstocks

Coefficient0.00 0.21 0.42 0.63 0.83

PiAu5111MW

G3007 G.935

O.3 G5179 G.202 G.30 G.11 B.9 M.8

M.20 J.9

JM.10 J-TE-G

Pi80 M.9

M.9T337 V.2 M? P.1

P.14 G.16 V.1

G.41 M.27 G.65 M.10 M.13 M.26

Alnarp PiAu514

M.1 M.2 M.4

M.11 M.3

PiAu5683 M.7

PiAu5111 P.18 R.5 V.7

J-TE-C M.25

MM.106 MM.111

B.491 B.118

Maruba NAGA Novole

V.7

V.2

V.1

R.5

PiAu5683

PiAu514

PiAu5111

Pi80

P.18P.14

P.1O.3

Novole

M.9T337

NAGA

MM.111

MM.106

Maruba

M.27

M.26M.25

M.20

M.13

M.11M.10 M?

M.9M.8

M.7

M.4

M.3

M.2

M.1

J-TE-G

J-TE-C

JM.10

J.9

G.65

G.30

G.16

G.11B.9

B.118

B.491

Alnarp

G.935G5179

G.202

G.41

G3007

1.001.00

0.470.47

IIII-0.06-0.06

-0.59-0.59

-1.86-1.86-1.11-1.11

-1.03-1.03

-0.59-0.59

-1.19-1.19

-0.15-0.15

II0.290.29

IIIIII-0.52-0.52

0.720.72

0.140.14

0.810.81

M.9 or

Malling

Cluster

Commercial Apple Rootstocks Represent a Very Restricted Gene Pool

Released Geneva® Apple Rootstocks Arranged by Tree Size

M.27 Size M.9 T337

M.26 Size

M.7-MM106 Size

Seedling Size

G.65 G.41

G.16

G.202 G.30 New

Releases G.210 G.214

M.9 PAJ 2

G.11 G.935

G.969 G.890

G.213 G.222

Propagation of Geneva® Rootstocks

• Rootstocks are propagated in the USA by stoolbed.

• The Geneva rootstocks are started using Tissue Culture

- Tissue Culture to induce greater juvenility in stoolbed

- Tissue Culture plants as then planted in stoolbeds

Rooting of G.41 Apple Rootstock from tissue culture plants

Rooting of G.41 Apple Rootstock in propagation beds

There is Variability in Root Architecture among Geneva Stocks

Drought Affects Root System Characteristics

Many Geneva Rootstocks have Tolerance to Replant Disease

Fine Root Trait in Associated with Replant Disease Tolerance

G214

Geneva Rootstocks have High Yield Efficiency

There are Many New Geneva Rootstock Selections to Test

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

M27

CG

2034

CG

4202

JM4

CG

4088

CG

5757

CG

2406

CG

2022

CG

5030

CG

11

M9

CG

3007

PiA

u5111

CG

4003

CG

6874

C

G4214

M26

JM10

CG

400

4

CG

7480

C

G4019

CG

4049

CG

6969

CG

5087

C

G5202

CG

8534

CG

4814

JM1

CG

4011

CG

5935

CG

6006

CG

5257

MM

106

CG

5012

M7

CG

6210

CG

6879

CG

8189

PiA

u514

PiA

u568

CG

6976

B

118

CG

5890

CG

600

1

CG

6253

CG

401

3

JTE

B

JM2

CG

4213

JTE

C

CG

546

3

CG

658

9

CG

6024

Tru

nk

X-S

ect.

Are

a (

cm2)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Yie

ld E

ffic

ien

cy (

kg/c

m2T

CA

)

在中国测试新砧木的可能性

G.11 针对活力强的品种 G.41 针对活力较弱的品

种或重茬 G.935 或 G.202 针对活

力很弱的品种

我们计划和中国的大学合作，建立几个评估性果园

2013- Six Leading Production Systems in the World

Tall Spindle Super Spindle Precision V-Trellis

Solaxe

Bi-Axis

Bi-Axis Solaxe Mur Frutiere (Fruiting Wall)

Tree Density In-Row Between Row

System (trees/ha) (cm) (m)

Tall Spindle (free) 2,500-3,300 90-120 3.3-3.6

Super Spindle (free) 5,000-6,000 50-60 3-3.3

Bi-Axis (free) 1,800-2,500 120 3.3-3.6

Solaxe (semi-organized) 1,500-2,500 120-180 3.6-4.5

Precision V-trellis (organized) 2,500-5,000 60-90 4-5

Fruiting Wall (free) 2,500-3,300 90-120 3.3-3.6

Leading Apple Orchard Systems in the World

• Optimum Economic Tree Density

•2500-3,000 trees/ha

• High Early Production (Feathered trees+minimal pruning)

• 150t/ha in first 5 years

• High Mature Yields (High light interception 70-75%)

• Tree height=0.9*row width (~ 3-3.3m)

• 65t/ha with Gala

• 75t/ha with Fuji

• High Fruit Quality (Good light distribution in the canopy)

• thin conical canopy

• no permanent branches (limb renewal pruning =

removal of limbs larger than 2 cm diameter.

• columnarized (simplified) fruiting branches

• balanced vigor and calm trees

• Improved Labor Efficiency

• Simplified pruning recipe

• Partial mechanization of dormant pruning and tree

training (30-40% reduction in labor costs)

• Summer side wall shearing for summer pruning.

Principles of the Tall Spindle System

Production potential in the second year

0 fruits 5 fruits 10-15 fruits 20-50 fruits

Brookfield Gala/G.41

New York State

10 branches at planting (2006)

40 fruits in the second leaf

(2007)

With the Tall Spindle we can achieve high early yields

with highly feathered trees.

The Potential

Fuji/CG.007

85 fruits/tree in the

second leaf X 3374

trees/ha = 43 t/ha

Managing Feathered Trees

With the Tall Spindle we suggest removing 1-2 of the most vigorous feathers at

planting and tying the rest below horizontal soon after planting.

Up to 3 feathers can be removed With Whips, tree should not be headed.

促进早产的策略

-定植时不进行修剪 (除了去除过大的侧枝以外)

-定植后尽快将侧枝压倒水平线以下

End of First Year

All Feathers tied down at planting

Tree at end of

second year

Feathers tied

down in year 1

Tree at end of

second year

Feathers left

erect in year 1

Grow the tree to the top wire (10 ft) by the end of the second year

Gala/M.9 Honeycrisp/M.9

嘎拉/M.9 第五年，80吨/公顷

New York targets for early yield:

• 10 t/ha in the second leaf

• 25 t/ha in the third leaf

• 45 t/ha in the fourth leaf

• 70 t/ha in the fifth leaf

A total of 150 t/ha over the first 5 years

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

598 840 1026 1283 1655 2243 3262 5382

Density ( tr/ha )

Accu

mu

late

d Y

ield

5 y

ea

rs

(t/a

h)

Common Error: Excessive crop load in the 2-4th Years

We use a strict program of crop load management in the first 5 years.

For non biennial bearing varieties we limit crop load to 5 fruits/cm2 TCA

For biennial bearing varieties we limit crop load to 4 fruits/cm2 TCA

Approximate number of fruits / tree

1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year 5th Year

0 20 40 80 120

Concepts of Pruning – Limb Renewal Pruning

Common Error: Allowing large branches to remain in the tree

Large upper branches cause

shade on lower canopy

Large branches export

carbohydrates to trunk and

root system.

“Large Branches Create Large Trees”

20

40

60

80

100

Tru

nk

X-S

ect.

Are

a (

cm2

)

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

Tree Density (trees/ha)

Effect of Tree Density on Tree Size

McIntoshGala

FujiEmpire

Simple Recipe for Pruning Mature Tall Spindle Trees

1. Limit height by cutting leader to a fruitful side branch at optimum tree height

2. Remove 2-3 branches per year larger than 2cm (2 cut rule)

– Remember "large branches create large trees”

3. “Columnarize” or simplify each remaining branch so that it has a single axis and is left long and pendant

• High fruit quality requires good light distribution and calm trees.

• Limb renewal pruning is the single most important pruning concept for mature high density orchards.

• Large limbs lead to large root systems and greater tree vigor.

Pruning concepts of Large Fuji Trees

Removal of large limbs should be done over a 3 year period

Mature Tree Canopy Management

• "The best way of restricting vegetative growth is to produce apples."

• Use Nutrition to achieve calm tree growth. • Use Pruning to open gaps in the canopy without stimulating

vigor. • Remove 2-3 large branches (diam.~4cm) each year. Do not shorten

other branches. Allow them to become pendant before shortening.

• Modify summer pruning to allow replacement branches to develop on the trunk.

After Several Years of Renewal Pruning the tree has few large

branches

Precision V-Trellis

Benefits - high tree densities, high mature yields, systematized

pruning, adaptable to platforms, less expensive tree, adaptable to

platfomrs, reduced sunburn.

Negatives points – Costly trellis, costly tree training and

development, complicated management.

Super Spindle

Benefits - high tree densities, high early

productions, simple pruning, high fruit quality,

adaptable to platforms.

Negative Points – High investment, excessive vigor

in the top, requires low tree costs, not more

profitable than lower densities.

Solaxe

Solaxe Benefits: Control of excessive vigor, high production,

low alternate bearing.

Negative Points: • At densities above 2000 tr/ha the large

branches in the top create shading problems of the lower canopy.

• The chimney space is wasted. • The chimney does not allow shoots for renewal

shoots. • High hand labor costs to do spur extinction and

limb bending. • It is useful for areas with excessive vigor or

semi-dwarf rootstocks.

Vertical Axis

Bi-Axis

Benefits:- moderate densities but high number of

leaders per acre, high yields, high fruit quality, reduced

vigor in each leader, adaptable to platforms and

mechanical pruning.

Negative points: Requires a 2 stem tree from the

nursery.

Bi-Axis

Fruiting Wall, (Mur Frutiere)

Benefits include- mechanical pruning, reduction

of costs, high yields high fruit quality.

Negative points – vigor can be excessive, fruits

size can be smaller.

Fruiting Wall,

(Mur Frutiere)

• For most growers the Tall Spindle is the best. • Optimum Economic Tree Density 2,500-3,000 trees/ha

• High early production 150 t/ha in first 5 years

• High mature yields 75 t/ha with Fuji

• High Fruit Quality thin conical canopy

• Improved labor efficiency Simplified pruning recipe with

partial mechanization of dormant pruning and tree training

and summer side wall shearing for summer pruning.

• Where vigor is too high the Bi-Axis is an option • With pears and OHF rootstocks

• Where tree cost is low the Super Spindle is an option

• With spur or semi-spur type varieties the Fruiting

Wall is very interesting.

• The Precision V- or Vertical Trellis have little potential

where sunburn is a problem.

Which System is Best

New Directions: Partial Mechanization of Dormant Pruning

The simple pruning recipe of the Tall Spindle is well adapted to

the use of motorized platforms to reduce pruning costs

- The best fruit growers in NY have reported reductions in dormant pruning labor

of 25-40% if the trees are grown in the Tall Spindle system.

Dormant Pruning with a 2-Row Platform

Partial Mechanization of Dormant Pruning and Hand Thinning can

Reduce Labor Costs by 25-50%

New Directions: Mechanical Summer Pruning with the Tall Spindle

Benefits include reduction of costs,

improved fruit quality.

Timing: June, July, August

Mechanization of Summer Pruning

Width 75cm

Width 1.5m

Goal is to have a narrow fruiting wall

with good light distribution but not

create a vigor response in the tree and

reduce pruning costs by 2/3.

With tall spindle the canopy should be

an angled wall 1.5m wide at base and

75cm feet wide at top.

The pruning strategy is to use

mechanized pruning for 2 years then a

corrective dormant pruning to remove

limbs that have become too large and

open up the canopy.

6th Lead Fuji with Mechanical Sidewall Shearing

6th Lead Gala with Mechanical Sidewall Shearing

• For most growers the Tall Spindle is a great system. • Optimum Economic Tree Density

• High Early Production

• High mature yields

• High Fruit Quality

• Partial Mechanization of Pruning for Improved Labor

Efficiency.

• Biggest mistakes are:

• Initial branches not tied down

• Not growing the tree to 3m height fast enough

• Excessive cropping in years 2-4

• Too many large branches when trees are mature

Conclusions

Thank you for your attention