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A factorial planting of three scion varieties (`Gala', `Fuji', and `Braeburn') on each of four rootstocks (Mark, M.26, M.7a, and MM.1 11) was established at two locations in MD in 1990. In 1993, trees were scored for trunk circumference (TC), extension growth, leaf color, burrknots (BK) and gall-like swellings (GLS) both above and below ground, and presence of pests on the shanks. Mark was the only rootstock with GLS; 75% of the trees examined had these tissue proliferations, Mark grafted with `Fuji' had 2-3X higher %TC composed of GLS below ground than was observed with other scion varieties. Across rootstocks, %TC composed of BK below ground was significantly affected by location. ln each rootstock, regressions between growth parameters and % of TC with BK or GLS were almost all negative and many bad significant correlations. ln Mark, % of TC with GLS below ground (but not above) was significantly correlated with reduced TC at 25 cm. The occurrence of GLS was much greater below ground than above. Orchard surveys of trees on Mark were also conducted at several commercial sites in MD and NY. The percentage of trees showing GLS ranged from 0 to 90%. There was a significant reduction in TC at 25 cm correlated with increasing levels of GLS. The percentage of trees with GLS and mean % of TC with GLS significantly correlated with percentage of trees having visible woolly apple aphids or their distinctive galls.
Trees of each of five rootstock genotypes (M.7a, M.9, M.26, MM.111, Mark,) were inoculated above and below ground with three strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. These were compared to controls that were uninoculated or inoculated with sterile deionized water. All rootstocks tested were quite susceptible to crown gall, but M.9 and Mark were consistantly among the most susceptible genotypes. Percent of inoculated sites forming galls above ground ranged from 43% in M.7a to 77% in M.9 and the mean size of galls that formed ranged from 3.7 mm in M.26 to 7.7 mm in M.9. All rootstocks except M.9 formed galls at a higher percentage of inoculated sites that were below ground. Percent of below ground inoculations forming galls ranged from 67% in MM.111 to 100% in Mark while mean size of galls underground ranged from 4.2 mm in MM.111 to 15.3 mm in M.9. The proportion of inoculated sites forming galls below ground in M.7a was twice as high as in above ground sites For rootstock × strain means, each measure of crown gall susceptibility above ground was significantly correlated with corresponding below ground data at the 0.01 level. to three rootstocks, some trees inoculated with sterile deionized water also produced apparent galls at sites below the soil line (100% in Mark, 60% in M.7a, 22% in M.26) although none of the above ground control inoculations produced galls. Uninoculated controls showed no gall formation.
In the past three years we have studied the effects of oxygen on the maturation and ripening of `Gala' apples. Fruit-respiration, the onset of the climacteric rise in ethylene evolution and the rate of increase in ethylene production were measured. The effects of oxygen on softening and titrable acidity were also assessed. The delay in the onset of the climacteric rise in ethylene evolution shows enzymatic-type kinetics, with saturation levels of about 8-10% oxygen. Treatment with pure oxygen was highly detrimental; it induced visual symptoms of low-oxygen damage and high levels of ethanol. The slope of the rise in ethylene evolution is also a function of oxygen concentration, with an apparent Km for oxygen lower than that which delays the climacteric onset. The effect of oxygen on respiration is dependent on the physiological state of the fruit. In preclimacteric fruits, levels of oxygen between 2 and 8% eventually decrease respiration. Calculations of internal oxygen levels indicate that the diminution of respiration results from decreased metabolic activity in response to hypoxia.
In 1993, we studied the postharvest behavior of 25 Rubus genotypes. Included in the study were named cultivars from Europe and North America, advanced selections from the Univ. of Maryland Cooperative Breeding Program, species and raspberry interspecific hybrids, with R. phenicolasius, R. pungens oldhamii R sumatranus, and R parvifolius. Wide variation exists in the ethylene production rates of these genotypes. The difference between the lowest ethylene producer, R. phenicolasius, and the highest ethylene evolver, HTCC-6t (R. lasiostylus), was four orders of magnitude. Ethylene evolution rate and percentage mold were not correlated. Ethylene production and respiration rates were also measured using a flowthrough system. No single pattern was characteristic of all genotypes. Red raspberries were the highest ethylene producers and showed an ethylene and respiratory climacteric. Blackberries were low ethylene producers. Interspecific hybrids showed varied postharvest behaviors. The behavior observed in these interspecific hybrids may explain some of the conflicting reports on the postharvest behavior of blackberries and raspberries. In general heattolerant species such as blackberry, R. occidentalis, R. parvifolius exhibited lower rates of respiration and ethylene evolution than species from cool, temperate areas like R. idaeus.