Apple Orchard Systems: Tree Density,

Rootstocks and Pruning Systems

Terence Robinson and Steve Hoying

Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456
The evolution of orchard systems in the USA

Central Leader (500 trees / ha )

Umbrella tree (100 trees / ha)

Tall Spindle Slender Spindle (1,500 trees / ha)

(2,500 trees / ha ) Vertical Axis (1,200 trees / ha)
Pedestrian Orchards -1980’s Multiple Rows using M.9

Moderate yields and moderate light High yields but poor quality fruit in the
interception middle row

High yields and

high light Geneva Y trellis/M.26
interception
In the late 1980’s tall orchards (again)

Precision V-trellis 2,000 trees/ha

Vertical Axis- 1,500 trees/ha
Mid -1990’s - Super High Densities (5,000 trees/ha)

Super Spindle / M.9 V Super Spindle/M.9

 Late 1990’s-
Tall Spindle/M.9
 Effect of Tree Density on Cumulative Yield
598 Trees/ha
200 840 Trees/ha
1026 Trees/ha
1283 Trees/ha
1655 Trees/ha
150
2243 Trees/ha
3262 Trees/ha
5382 Tree/ha
100

50

0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Year
 Effect of Tree Density on 7 Yr. Cumulative Yield
250

200

150

100

Empire
50 Fuji
Gala
McIntosh
0
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
Tree Density (trees/ha)

Tree density had a highly significant negative effect on cumulative yield per
tree but a highly significant positive effect on yield per ha. The cumulative
yield per ha of the highest tree density was 3X greater than the lowest density
Geneva Y-trellis/M.26
 成熟的果园产量更高 (1,500-2,000蒲式耳/英亩)

300
y = -20 + 4.4x
250 r2 = 0.84

200

Vert. Axis 伸手即摘果园的采光量中等，产量也中等，

150 除非行间距 7-8 英尺 （210-240 cm)
Sl. Spindle

100 Y-trellis
Pal. Trellis 高树截光更多，
50 产量也更大
20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Canopy Light Interception (%)

70-75% 的采光量最佳

树高= 行间距 * 0.9 会达到 70-75% 的采光量

 Annual Yield of 5 Systems
1,100
1,000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300 Central Leader (340 tr/ac)
Vertical Axis (622 tr/ac)
200 Vertical Axis (908 tr/ac)
100 Tall Spindle (1340 tr/ac)
Super Spindle (2178 tr/ac)
0
5 10 15 20
Year
Profitability of Apple Orchards in NY over 20 Years

35,000

30,000
NPV 20 years ($/acre)

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000
2010
5,000 2003

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Tree Density (trees/acre)
 What is the optimum planting density?
40,000
35,000
30,000
NPV 20 years ($/acre)

$10/bushel
25,000 $8/bushel
20,000 $6/bushel
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
-5,000 0 500 1000 1500 2000
-10,000
-15,000
Tree Density (trees/acre)
The answer depends on price
 Economic Summary
• Our results indicate that the New York growers should increase planting density
from 1,500 trees/ha to 2,500-3,300 trees/ha in a system we call the “Tall Spindle”
Apple Rootstocks: The Foundation of High-Density
Orchards
Benefits of Dwarfing Rootstocks
•Early of cropping (precocity)
• Shorter time to payback initial
investment
•Improved yield/unit land area
(productivity)
• Annual profitability
•Reduced tree size (dwarfing level)
• Ease and cost of spraying
• Ease and cost of picking
• Ease and cost of pruning
 The Apple Tree
Dwarfing rootstock promote production of fruit
Solar Radiation

Amount of
Fruit Fruit (kg)

Leaf Rootstock

Vegetative Trunk Cross-

Parts Sectional Area
% Light Interception (cm2)

Seedling Rootstocks promote production of wood

 Current Apple Rootstocks:

• Currently in the United States the most common apple

rootstocks are M.9, M.26, B.9.
• 60% of the rootstocks are M.9,
• 20% are B.9,
• 10% are M.26,
• 4% are M.7,
• 3% are MM.111
• In China most apple rootstocks are seedling
 Challenges with Current Apple Rootstocks:

• Over the last 60 years, growers worldwide have used the

Malling series of rootstocks from England. However their
limitations are:
• lack of winter hardiness,
• lack of resistance to Phytophthora root rot,
• susceptibility to fire blight bacterial disease,
• burrknots,
• poor anchorage,
• root suckers,
• sensitivity to apple replant disease,
• brittle graft unions.
• lack of precocity.
 The Geneva Apple Rootstock Breeding and
Development Program
Joint Program with USDA and Cornell University
Dr. Gennaro Fazio, Herb Aldwinckle and Terence Robinson

Goal: Produce a series of rootstocks which are resistant to important rootstock

diseases and insects that are dwarfing, productive and efficient.
• Resistance to fire blight
• Resistance to Phytophthora root rot
• Resistance to woolly apple aphid
• Cold tolerant
• Resistant to apple replant disease.
 The Geneva® rootstocks are a distinct genetic group
from most commercial rootstocks
G3007
G.935
M.9 or MM.111
O.3
G5179
G.202
Malling MM.106
M.2 PiAu5683 G.30
G.11
B.9
Alnarp
M.4 M.8
Cluster M.13 M .7P.18 PiAu5111
P.14
M.20
J.9
M.1 JM.10
0.81
0.81 J-TE-C V.1 M.27 J-TE-G
G.65 M.11 Pi80
M.10
M.3 M? M.9
M.9T337
J.9 V.2
Pi80
M.9T337
B M?
G.41 M.9 PiAu
.118 514
M.26 P.1
M.25 M .8J-TE-G P.14
V.7 M.20 G.16
0.14 V.2 V.1
G.202 B.9 P.1 G.41
G.11 G.30 O.3 B.491
JM.10 M.27
G3007 G.65
PiAu5111MW
R.5 G.935
G5179 M.10
M.13
M.26
III Alnarp
-0.52 PiAu514
1.00
1.00 M.1
M.2
M.4
M.11
00.47
.47 M.3
G.16 PiAu5683
M.7
-1.19
-1.19 II
II -0.06 Novole PiAu5111
P.18
R.5
MaruA
NAG ba V.7
-0.59 J-TE-C
M.25

-1.86
-1.11
-1.86
Commercial Apple Rootstocks Represent a Very Restricted Gene Pool MM.106
MM.111
B.491
-1.03
-1.03 B.118
Maruba
-0.59
-0.59 NAGA
-0.15
-0.15 Novole
 Released Geneva® Apple Rootstocks Arranged by Tree Size
Seedling Size

M.7-MM106 Size
M.26 Size
M.9 PAJ 2
M.9 T337
M.27 Size

G.65 G.11 G.41 G.935 G.202 G.30

G.16 G.214 New
G.969 G.210 G.890
Releases
G.222 G.213
Propagation of Geneva® Rootstocks
• Rootstocks are propagated in the USA by stoolbed.
• The Geneva rootstocks are started using Tissue Culture
- Tissue Culture to induce greater juvenility in stoolbed
- Tissue Culture plants as then planted in stoolbeds
Rooting of G.41 Apple Rootstock from tissue culture plants
Rooting of G.41 Apple Rootstock in propagation beds
There is Variability in Root Architecture among Geneva Stocks
Drought Affects Root System Characteristics
Many Geneva Rootstocks have Tolerance to Replant Disease
Fine Root Trait in Associated with Replant Disease Tolerance

G214
Geneva Rootstocks have High Yield Efficiency
 Trunk X-Sect. Area (cm2)

10
20
30
40
50
60

0
M27
CG2034
CG4202
JM4
CG4088
CG5757
CG2406
CG2022
CG5030
CG11
M9
CG3007
PiAu5111
CG4003
CG6874
CG4214
M26
JM10
CG4004
CG7480
CG4019
CG4049
CG6969
CG5087
CG5202
CG8534
CG4814
JM1
CG4011
CG5935
CG6006
CG5257
MM106
CG5012
M7
CG6210
CG6879
CG8189
PiAu514
PiAu568
CG6976
B118
CG5890
CG6001
CG6253
CG4013
JTEB
JM2
CG4213
JTEC
CG5463
CG6589
CG6024
There are Many New Geneva Rootstock Selections to Test

0.5
1.5
2.5

0.0
1.0
2.0

Yield Efficiency (kg/cm2TCA)

 在中国测试新砧木的可能性
我们计划和中国的大学合作，建立几个评估性果园

G.11 针对活力强的品种
G.41 针对活力较弱的品
种或重茬
G.935 或 G.202 针对活
力很弱的品种
 2013- Six Leading Production Systems in the World

Tall Spindle Super Spindle Precision V-Trellis

Solaxe
Bi-Axis

Bi-Axis Solaxe Mur Frutiere (Fruiting Wall)

 Leading Apple Orchard Systems in the World
Tree Density In-Row Between Row
System (trees/ha) (cm) (m)
Tall Spindle (free) 2,500-3,300 90-120 3.3-3.6
Super Spindle (free) 5,000-6,000 50-60 3-3.3
Bi-Axis (free) 1,800-2,500 120 3.3-3.6
Solaxe (semi-organized) 1,500-2,500 120-180 3.6-4.5
Precision V-trellis (organized) 2,500-5,000 60-90 4-5
Fruiting Wall (free) 2,500-3,300 90-120 3.3-3.6
Principles of the Tall Spindle System
• Optimum Economic Tree Density
•2500-3,000 trees/ha
• High Early Production (Feathered trees+minimal pruning)
• 150t/ha in first 5 years
• High Mature Yields (High light interception 70-75%)
• Tree height=0.9*row width (~ 3-3.3m)
• 65t/ha with Gala
• 75t/ha with Fuji
• High Fruit Quality (Good light distribution in the canopy)
• thin conical canopy
• no permanent branches (limb renewal pruning =
removal of limbs larger than 2 cm diameter.
• columnarized (simplified) fruiting branches
• balanced vigor and calm trees
• Improved Labor Efficiency
• Simplified pruning recipe
• Partial mechanization of dormant pruning and tree
training (30-40% reduction in labor costs)
• Summer side wall shearing for summer pruning.
 Production potential in the second year
0 fruits 5 fruits 10-15 fruits 20-50 fruits
With the Tall Spindle we can achieve high early yields
with highly feathered trees.
Brookfield Gala/G.41
New York State
10 branches at planting (2006)
40 fruits in the second leaf
(2007)
The Potential

Fuji/CG.007
85 fruits/tree in the
second leaf X 3374
trees/ha = 43 t/ha
Managing Feathered Trees

With the Tall Spindle we suggest removing 1-2 of the most vigorous feathers at
planting and tying the rest below horizontal soon after planting.
Up to 3 feathers can be removed With Whips, tree should not be headed.
促进早产的策略
-定植时不进行修剪 (除了去除过大的侧枝以外)
-定植后尽快将侧枝压倒水平线以下
 Tree at end of
second year
Feathers tied
down in year 1

Tree at end of
second year
Feathers left
End of First Year erect in year 1
All Feathers tied down at planting
Grow the tree to the top wire (10 ft) by the end of the second year

Gala/M.9 Honeycrisp/M.9
嘎拉/M.9 第五年，80吨/公顷
New York targets for early yield:
• 10 t/ha in the second leaf
• 25 t/ha in the third leaf
• 45 t/ha in the fourth leaf
• 70 t/ha in the fifth leaf
A total of 150 t/ha over the first 5 years

160
Accumulated Yield 5 years (t/ah)

140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
598 840 1026 1283 1655 2243 3262 5382
Density ( tr/ha )
Common Error: Excessive crop load in the 2-4th Years
We use a strict program of crop load management in the first 5 years.
For non biennial bearing varieties we limit crop load to 5 fruits/cm2 TCA
For biennial bearing varieties we limit crop load to 4 fruits/cm2 TCA
Approximate number of fruits / tree
1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year 5th Year
0 20 40 80 120
Concepts of Pruning – Limb Renewal Pruning
Common Error: Allowing large branches to remain in the tree
Large upper branches cause
shade on lower canopy

Large branches export

carbohydrates to trunk and
root system.
 “Large Branches Create Large Trees”
Effect of Tree Density on Tree Size
100
Trunk X-Sect. Area (cm2 )

Empire
Fuji
Gala
80
McIntosh

60

40

20
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
Tree Density (trees/ha)
 Simple Recipe for Pruning Mature Tall Spindle Trees
1. Limit height by cutting leader to a fruitful
side branch at optimum tree height
2. Remove 2-3 branches per year larger than
2cm (2 cut rule)
– Remember "large branches create
large trees”
3. “Columnarize” or simplify each
remaining branch so that it has a single
axis and is left long and pendant
 Pruning concepts of Large Fuji Trees
• High fruit quality requires good
light distribution and calm
trees.
• Limb renewal pruning is the
single most important pruning
concept for mature high density
orchards.
• Large limbs lead to large root
systems and greater tree vigor.
Removal of large limbs should be done over a 3 year period
 Mature Tree Canopy Management
• "The best way of restricting vegetative growth is to produce
apples."
• Use Nutrition to achieve calm tree growth.
• Use Pruning to open gaps in the canopy without stimulating
vigor.
• Remove 2-3 large branches (diam.~4cm) each year. Do not shorten
other branches. Allow them to become pendant before shortening.
• Modify summer pruning to allow replacement branches to
develop on the trunk.
After Several Years of Renewal Pruning the tree has few large
branches
 Precision V-Trellis
Benefits - high tree densities, high mature yields, systematized
pruning, adaptable to platforms, less expensive tree, adaptable to
platfomrs, reduced sunburn.

Negatives points – Costly trellis, costly tree training and

development, complicated management.
 Super Spindle
Benefits - high tree densities, high early
productions, simple pruning, high fruit quality,
adaptable to platforms.

Negative Points – High investment, excessive vigor

in the top, requires low tree costs, not more
profitable than lower densities.
Solaxe
Solaxe
Benefits: Control of excessive vigor, high production,
low alternate bearing.
Negative Points:
• At densities above 2000 tr/ha the large
branches in the top create shading problems of
the lower canopy.
• The chimney space is wasted.
• The chimney does not allow shoots for renewal
shoots.
• High hand labor costs to do spur extinction and
limb bending.
• It is useful for areas with excessive vigor or
semi-dwarf rootstocks.
Vertical Axis
 Bi-Axis
Benefits:- moderate densities but high number of
leaders per acre, high yields, high fruit quality, reduced
vigor in each leader, adaptable to platforms and
mechanical pruning.

Negative points: Requires a 2 stem tree from the

nursery.
Bi-Axis
 Fruiting Wall, (Mur Frutiere)
Benefits include- mechanical pruning, reduction
of costs, high yields high fruit quality.

Negative points – vigor can be excessive, fruits

size can be smaller.
Fruiting Wall,
(Mur Frutiere)
 Which System is Best
• For most growers the Tall Spindle is the best.
• Optimum Economic Tree Density 2,500-3,000 trees/ha
• High early production 150 t/ha in first 5 years
• High mature yields 75 t/ha with Fuji
• High Fruit Quality thin conical canopy
• Improved labor efficiency Simplified pruning recipe with
partial mechanization of dormant pruning and tree training
and summer side wall shearing for summer pruning.
• Where vigor is too high the Bi-Axis is an option
• With pears and OHF rootstocks
• Where tree cost is low the Super Spindle is an option
• With spur or semi-spur type varieties the Fruiting
Wall is very interesting.
• The Precision V- or Vertical Trellis have little potential
where sunburn is a problem.
New Directions: Partial Mechanization of Dormant Pruning
The simple pruning recipe of the Tall Spindle is well adapted to
the use of motorized platforms to reduce pruning costs
- The best fruit growers in NY have reported reductions in dormant pruning labor
of 25-40% if the trees are grown in the Tall Spindle system.
Dormant Pruning with a 2-Row Platform
Partial Mechanization of Dormant Pruning and Hand Thinning can
Reduce Labor Costs by 25-50%
New Directions: Mechanical Summer Pruning with the Tall Spindle
Benefits include reduction of costs,
improved fruit quality.

Timing: June, July, August

Mechanization of Summer Pruning
Goal is to have a narrow fruiting wall Width 75cm
with good light distribution but not
create a vigor response in the tree and
reduce pruning costs by 2/3.

With tall spindle the canopy should be

an angled wall 1.5m wide at base and
75cm feet wide at top.

The pruning strategy is to use

mechanized pruning for 2 years then a
corrective dormant pruning to remove
limbs that have become too large and
open up the canopy.
Width 1.5m
6th Lead Fuji with Mechanical Sidewall Shearing
6th Lead Gala with Mechanical Sidewall Shearing
 Conclusions
• For most growers the Tall Spindle is a great system.
• Optimum Economic Tree Density
• High Early Production
• High mature yields
• High Fruit Quality
• Partial Mechanization of Pruning for Improved Labor
Efficiency.
• Biggest mistakes are:
• Initial branches not tied down
• Not growing the tree to 3m height fast enough
• Excessive cropping in years 2-4
• Too many large branches when trees are mature
Thank you for your attention