Performance of Six Apple Cultivars on M9, M26, and M7 Rootstocks1

Abstract ‘Harrold Red Delicious’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Spartan’, ‘McIntosh’, ‘Tydeman's Red’ and ‘Quinte’ apples were compared over a 12-year period on Mailing (M) 9, M 26 and M 7 rootstocks on variable soil at Summerland. ‘Harrold Red Delicious’ performed well on M 7, poorly on M 26 and M 9. ‘Golden Delicious’ was precocious and productive on all rootstocks, with fairly uniform performance on M 7 and M 26, but was extremely variable on M 9. ‘Spartan’ trees were precocious, productive and uniform on M 7, but variable on M 26 and of poor habit on M 9. ‘McIntosh’ performed best on M 7, being variable on M 26 and M 9. ‘Tydeman's Red’ and ‘Quinte’ lacked precocity and productivity on all 3 rootstocks.