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A randomized complete block study was initiated in 1991 in a fifteen year old `Rogers Red McIntosh'/9-106 interstem orchard to investigate the effect of three dormant pruning regimes- an unpruned control, selectively thinned, and heavily structured or “tiered”, on tree canopy light distribution and fruit and spur quality. Fruit quality parameters being measured for the 1991 and 1992 harvests include skin color (% red blush), weight (g.), flesh firmness (kg.), soluble solids concentration (% Brix), and packout (% fancy grade). Pruning treatment effect on fruit spur quality, in terms of spur bud diameter (mm.) and spur efficiency (leaf dry weight/spur), is also being evaluated at time of harvest. Light distribution is being measured (% PAR, umol/s/m2.) within the tree canopy from petal fall through harvest. Preliminary findings indicate there is a difference in tree canopy light distribution and some fruit quality measurements, including red skin color, between pruning regimes. Complete analysis of results from 1991 will be presented.
The Virtual Orchard (VO) is a World Wide Web (WWW) site dedicated to dissemination of information on sustainable apple production. The VO also provides interactive forums for research and extension projects, including the `Apple-Crop Listserv', dealing with commercial apple production and marketing issues. More specifically, the Virtual Orchard hosts the `New Jersey Fruit Focus' sponsored by Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and the `UVM Apple Orchard', home to the Univ. of Vermont research and Extension `Apple Team'. A search engine provides keyword searching of the VO and other relevant WWW sites. During Jan.—Dec. 1997, the Virtual Orchard welcomed nearly 40,000 unique Internet visitors and served >500,00 requested files. VO WWW pages are served by an Apple Macintosh Workgroup Server located at the Univ. of Vermont. The Uniform Research Locator (URL) of the Virtual Orchard is http://orchard.uvm.edu. The `Apple-Crop Listserv' is an Internet discussion list that provides a forum for information exchange between university researchers, extension agents and specialists, students, commercial apple growers, wholesalers/brokers, retailers, and direct marketers of apples. `Apple-Crop' became active in 1993 and as of Dec. 1997, had >340 subscribers throughout North America and from several foreign countries. To subscribe to `Apple-Crop' or for more information, send e-mail to apple-crop@orchard.uvm.edu; Univ. of Vermont (802) 656-2630; Rutgers Cooperative Extension (908) 788-1339.
In 2004, at full bloom, 3-year-old `Cameo'/G.16, `Gala'/M.9 NA-KBT337, `Gala'/G.16, and `Redmax'/B.9 apple trees were treated with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA, 1.5% in latex paint) in a 7.5-cm band completely around the central leader at the base of 2-year-old wood. NAA treatment reduced 2004 extension growth of the central leader by 14% and total shoot growth above the treatment area by 32%. `Cameo'/G.16 trees also were sprayed with prohexadione-Ca (250 ppm with surfactant and water conditioner) at full bloom, and additional trees were sprayed with ethephon (500 ppm with surfactant) 1 week after full bloom. These spray treatments were made only to the stems and foliage from the base of the central leader's 2-year-old wood to the top of the canopy. Ethephon reduced total shoot growth in 2004 by 26%, and prohexadione-Ca reduced it by 63%. Prohexadione-Ca also reduced fruit set of `Cameo' in 2004. Scoring (single knife cut completely around the circumference of the trunk) at the base of the 2-year-old wood in the `Cameo' trees resulted in a 23% reduction in leader growth and a 22% in totals shoot growth in the upper canopy in 2004. In 2005 at full bloom, 4-year-old `Golden Delicous'/B.9 trees were treated with NAA similarly to trees in 2004, except treatment at the base of 2-year-old wood was compared to treatment at the base of 1-year-old wood. Treating the base of 1-year-old wood reduced growth to a greater degree than comparable treatment at the base of 2-year-old wood. For the 1- and 2-year-old-wood treatments, the number of laterals produced from the 1-year-old wood was reduced 42% and 17%, and total shoot growth from 1-year-old wood was reduced by 49% and 31%, respectively.
Researchers have collected a considerable amount of data relating to apple (Malus ×domestica) cultivars and rootstocks over the past 30 years, but much of this information is not easily accessible. The long-term goal of our working group is to increase access to this information using online technology available through eXtension. In eXtension, researchers and extension personnel are developing a community of practice (CoP) to increase the quality and amount of online information for individuals interested in our work [referred to as a community of interest (CoI)]. For this project, our CoI is broadly defined as commercial apple producers, nursery professionals, county extension educators, Extension Master Gardeners, home gardeners, and consumers. Our CoP is developing diverse educational tools, with the goals of increasing productivity, profitability, and sustainability for commercial apple production. Additionally, we will provide other members of our CoI access to research-based, reliable information on the culture of apples. We chose to begin our focus on cultivars and rootstocks adapted to the eastern United States and will add other U.S. regions as our resources and interest in our project grows.