MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES AMONG APPLE LEAF TYPES

Leaf characteristics of mature 'Sturdeespur Delicious'/MM.106 apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) were studied in two experiments. In 1989 canopy foliage on fruiting trees was divided into shoot leaves, leaves on nonfruiting spurs, and leaves on fruiting spurs. Shoot leaves were the heaviest, the largest, and contained the highest internal gas volume and chlorophyll content. The two spur-leaf types differed in their leaf characteristics except for stomate density. In 1990 shoot and spur leaves on nonfruiting spurs on fruiting trees had lower leaf water content than those leaves on nonfruiting trees. All other shoot-leaf characteristics were similar. Leaves on nonfruiting spurs on nonfruiting trees were larger than those on fruiting trees.