Impact of rootstock on fruit physical properties of 'Pink Lady' apple

Abstract

During 2018 and 2019, we evaluated the main fruit physical properties [weight (FW), length (L), diameter (D), geometric mean diameter (Dg), length/diameter ratio (L/D ratio), sphericity (φ), surface area (S), fruit volume (V) and solid density (ρ)] of ‘Pink Lady’ apple grafted on dwarf M.9 Т337, semi-dwarf M.26 and semi-vigour MM.106 rootstocks. Results showed that rootstocks significantly changed the properties evaluated with the exception of L/D ratio, φ and ρ. Among rootstocks, M.9 Т33 7 produced the best properties, whereas lower and statistically similar values were obtained from M.26 and MM.106 rootstocks. All rootstocks promoted D higher than 66 mm, whereas only M.9 Т337 induced D ≥70 mm. The rootstocks did not have the capacity to change the fruit shape of the ‘Pink Lady’ club cultivar.