Rootstock effects on growth and quality of 'gala' apples

The effect of rootstock on apple size is not clear due to inconsistent results of published studies. This study was conducted over 3 years at the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station near Sturgeon Bay, WI on 6-year-old 'Gala' apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) grafted on Malling 26 (M.26), Ottawa 3, M.9 Pajam 1, and Vineland (V)-605 rootstocks. Fruit diameter was measured weekly. Fruit weight and volume were estimated by a quadratic regression of weekly measurements. Fruit weight was positively correlated with fruit volume. Rootstock had no effect on fruit growth and final size even with the removal of crop load effects. Crop load was a highly significant covariate for fruit size, but canopy light interception and seed count were not. Trees on M.26 EMLA had slightly higher yield in 2000 but rootstock did not affect yield efficiency any year. Rootstock had no influence on fruit quality attributes during 2001; however, in 2002, fruit obtained from trees on Pajam-1 tended to be less firm. Generally, apple fruit size was influenced by crop load and other factors, but not by rootstock.