Overview of Current (Apple) Rootstock Technologies The Geneva Apple Rootstock Breeding Team
Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) Geneva, New York Malus - Apple - 3995 accessions 2430 clones (grafted) and 1565 seedlots from wild 2808 wild Malus seedlings from 310 populations from Kazakhstan, Russia, China & Turkey
Conversation between Johnny Apple Pippin (Super Pippin Orchards) and A.C.M.E. Apple Nurseries Salesperson Johnny Apple Pippin Hello, A.C.M.E. Apple Nursery where your apple dreams come true!? Hello, my name is Johnny Pippin from Super Pippin Orchards! Had bad fire blight last season.i just removed 10 acres of my old orchard and I would like to replant it with four of the most exciting and newest apple varieties. A.C.M.E. Nursery Sure! We can help you! We have trees featuring a brand new super red sport of Fuji that will mature a month early, then we have SupreCrisp, MorningCrunch, SweetBlush, AstroCrunch, How many trees do you need? Those varieties sound great and I have tasted them! I am sure they will bring many customers to my orchard. Well my old trees were planted at 15 ft x 10 ft I can probably squeeze twice as many. Do you have 10,000 trees? Sure! Each tree is $10 plus all the royalties, you know. We made the trees already last summer, we can have them shipped as soon as you prep your field. Super!!! We ll be ready in March But I have a nagging feeling that I am forgetting something
Oh! No! I forgot the ROOTSTOCKS! Johnny Apple Pippin
The Geneva Apple Rootstock Breeding Program Sarah Bauer James Cummins Terence Robinson Herb Aldwinckle Charlie Todd Holleran
Historical Perspective Drs. Cummins and Aldwickle start selecting parents for apple rootstock breeding program NOVOLE G.65 G.30 G.11 G.16 G.202 G.41 G.935 G.214 G.969 G.890 G.210 G.222 G.814 G.213 1968 1978 1988 1998 2008 Robusta 5 identified as a good parent for fire blight resistance Dr. Cummins retires Production of Geneva rootstocks < 100 K Trees/Year Dr. Aldwinckle retires Production of Geneva rootstocks > 10M Trees/Year USDA ARS takes lead of the breeding program FOCUS: disease resistance (fire blight, phytophthora), productivity (dwarfing, precocity)
Apple Rootstock Breeding and Selection Protocols Objective 1.1 Stage 1 Years 1-2 Stage 2 Years 3-4 Stage 3 Years 5-6 Stage 4 Years 7-12 Stage 5 Years 10-15 Stage 6 Years 16-18 Stage 7 Years 19-21 Stage 8 Years 22-24 Stage 9 Years 25-27 Stage 10 Years 27-30 1. Select elite parents 2. Generate F1 populations 3. Stratify and plant populations 4. MAS for dwarfing, precocity, disease resistance, etc. 5. Disease screening 6. Plant selected stools 7. Stool selection 8. Propagation and grafting 9. First test orchard 10. First test evaluation and selection 11. Elite stoolbed establishment 12. Stress tolerance tests - drought, cold hardiness, graft union strength 13. Elite liner and tree production 14. Elite stoolbed selection and distribution to nurseries 15. Intermediate replicated orchard 16. Intermediate orchard evaluation 17. Commercial stoolbed evaluation 18. NC-140 and cooperator trials (national and international) 19. Commercial production ramp up Patent and UPOV protection 20. Comercial sale Feedback from Horticultural Traits evaluations, disease resistance evaluations, stress tolerance evaluationswill be combined with molecular data and used in subsequent cycles of selection. Elite material from these evaluations are used as parents in subsequent cycles. Critical Juncture: Molecular information about allelic constitution at disease resistance loci and about other important traits can be used to bypass first test orchard. Repeated inoculations with Fireblight, Wooly Apply Aphid, Phytophtora, Powdery Mildew and comparison to known standards These Stress Tolerance Tests willl have to be highly replicated at each location - therefore only a few selections at a time will be tested. Grower cooperators in cold or drought prone areas in the US will be selected for cold hardiness and drought stress. For graft union compatibility and strength a set of rootstocks will be grafted with multiple scions and graft unions tested after 3 years. Contingent on goodness of MAS Highly replicated first test orchard at multiple sites Test orchard Evaluation and Selection Elite stoolbed establishment Stress tolerance tests - drought, cold hardiness, graft union strength Elite stoolbed selection and distribution to nurseries Commercial stoolbed evaluation and distribution of trees to trial sites NC140 and cooperator trials (national and internationa) Commercial production ramp up Commercial sale
VERY UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF GENEVA ROOTSTOCKS Value to Growers Increase in productivity/ha Branch angle modification Replant disease tolerance Wooly apple aphid resistance Fire blight resistance Unique nutrient uptake Fine root proliferation
Rootstock Trait Evaluation and Selection at Geneva: In the greenhouse Fire blight Phytophthora Wooly apple aphid In the nursery Spines Rooting In the orchard Survival Tree size Yield efficiency Fruit size Suckering Tolerance to fire blight Tolerance to replant disease Graft union strength
Main Insects and diseases of apple rootstocks Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) Crown rot, root rot (Phytophthora spp.) Woolly Apple Aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum) Southern Blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) White root rot (Rosellinia necatrix) Replant Disease
Disease Screens Stage 1 3,000 to 10,000 seedlings/year
Disease Screens Stage 1 3,000 to 10,000 seedlings/year
Replant Disease Tolerance of Geneva Rootstocks Phytophthora spores Rhizoctonia mycelium Pythium attrantheridium Pratylenchus penetrans Cylindrocarpon spores
Apple Replant Disease Complex Different in every orchard site in composition and severity ORCHARD 3 Pratilenchus spp. ORCHARD 2 Rhizoctonia spp. Phytophthora spp. ORCHARD 1 Phythium spp. Cylindrocarpon spp.
REPLANT Experimental Design ROOTSTOCK A ROOTSTOCK B ROOTSTOCK C ROOTSTOCK D ROOTSTOCK E FUMIGATED NON-FUMIGATED
WAPATO REPLANT TRIAL LOCATION Mean Cumilative Yield Per Tree for the Three Highest and Lowest Yielding Rootstocks 13% 18 21% Kg 16 14 12 10 8 6 G.935 G.41 G4214 27% B.9 G.16 Nic.29 G4214 G.11 Supp.3 B.9 G.16 Nic.29 G.935 G.41 G4214 B.9 Supp.2 Nic.29 34% Highest Three Lowest Three 4 2 0 Overall Fumigated Non Fumigated
CHELAN REPLANT LOCATION Mean Cumulative Yield of Highest and Lowest Three Rootstocks 8 9.6% Kg 7 6 5 4 G.935 G.41 G.16 66% G.935 G.41 G.16 60% Highest Three Lowest Three 3 2 1 0 NoFUM B.9 M.26 Nic.29 FUMIG B.9 Supp.2 Supp.1
B.9 G.11 M.9 EMLA G.41 G.16 G.210 G.214 G.222 G.935 G.890 G.30 NonB.9 NonM.9 EMLA NonG.41 NonG.16 NonG.222 NonG.935 NonG.210 NonG.214 NonG.30 Trunk Cross Sectional Area (cm 2 ) '06 Wapato Gala Geneva Rootstock Trial - 2013 35.0 30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0
Bins /Acre B.9 M.9 EMLA G.16 '06 Wapato Gala Geneva Rootstock Trial Cumulative yield 2007-2013 G.222 G.11 G.41 G.210 G.890 G.935 G.214 G.30 NonB.9 NonM.9 EMLA NonG.41 NonG.222 NonG.16 NonG.935 NonG.214 NonG.210 NonG.30 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
Strategies to Overcome Apple Replant Disease Soil fumigation -Expensive -Environmental concerns -Short duration of effect Soil amendments -Limited effectiveness -Expensive Replacing soil -Expensive -Labor intensive Genetic tolerance or resistance of rootstock -Effective for life of orchard -Inexpensive Percent Growth Increment 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% -10.00% -20.00% Relative Fumigation Effect on Trunk Cross Sectional Area Growth (2004-2007) WAPATO CHELAN Location 2004 2005 2006 2007
Fire Blight Limits Planting of New Varieties The high susceptibility of new varieties such as Pink Lady and Jazz make it difficult to plant new orchards on M.9 rootstock. With a fire blight-resistant rootstock, when the tree is infected the tree survives and the infected branches can be quickly re-grown.
Fire Blight Screening Stage 1 500 to 2,000 seedlings
Resistance to Fire Blight (E. amylovora) FIELD INOCULATIONS ON FINISHED TREES GREENHOUSE INOCULATIONS ON LINERS
Fire Blight Infection of Rootstocks is a Major Problem in the USA Infection of susceptible rootstocks results in the death of the tree Infection site
2007 UT Fire Blight Trial
The Geneva rootstocks are much more resistant to fire blight than most other rootstocks.
Second Test for Resistance to Biotic Stresses Stage 5 Inoculation with Wooly Apple Aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum) Water Logging test with Phytophthora Inoculation Fire Blight Inoculations with Multiple Strains
G. 41 M.9 Courtesy Betsy Beers WSU Wenatchee
Trials with NC-140 Collaborators and Advanced Growers Stage 8 (Site 1 10yrs) + (Site 2 12yrs) + (Site 3 9yrs).= 300-400 Trial Years
Performance of Gala with Geneva, Supporter, JM and PiAu Rootstocks after 7 years (Han 15 Plot)
Performance of Golden Delicious with Geneva Rootstocks after 8 years (Cahoon Plot)
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 CG4218 JTEC CG5463 CG6589 CG6024 Trunk X-Sect. Area (cm2) Yield Efficiency (kg/cm2tca) Performance of Fuji with 53 Rootstocks after 4 years (Crist Bros. Plot) 60 2.5 50 2.0 40 1.5 30 1.0 20 10 0.5 0 0.0
Yield (kg/tree) Apple Fruit Size (g) 60 2010 NC-140 Honeycrisp Rootstock Trial 400 50 40 350 300 250 30 200 20 10 150 100 50 0 0 Yield Fruit size
Cum. yield (kg/tree) Apple Cum. yield eff.(kg/cm 2 TCA) 120.0 2010 NC-140 Honeycrisp Rootstock Trial 7.00 100.0 6.00 80.0 5.00 60.0 4.00 3.00 40.0 2.00 20.0 1.00 0.0 0.00 Cum. Yield Cum. yield eff.
Released U.S. Geneva Apple Rootstocks Arranged by Tree Size Seedling Size M.7-MM106 Size M.9 T337 M.27 Size M.9 PAJ 2 M.26 Size G.65 G.11 G.41 G.935 G.16 G.214 http://www.cctec.cornell.edu/plants/geneva-apple- Rootstocks-Comparison-Chart-120911.pdf G.202 G.30 New U.S. G.969 G.210 Releases G.890
G.202 G.11 Mark G.222 G.214 G.935 4011 G.41 G.30 5257 600 '06 Vantage Fuji Rootstock Trial Cumulative Yield 2008-2013 - Bins per acre 500 400 300 200 85 76 95 54 85 97 97 74 75 79 89 83 97 64 67 70 89 80 101 66 102 99 113 77 73 70 91 109 108 84 77 74 99 94 85 93 100 106 80 76 100 98 94 97 97 102 113 110 115 110 125 0 27 47 46 29 41 46 49 45 63 47
Mark G.202 G.214 G.11 G.935 G.41 G.222 G.30 CG5257 Grams / Fruit 340 '06 Vantage Fuji Rootstock Trial Average Fruit Size 2008-2013 320 <Box size 56 300 <Box size 64 280 260
Geneva Apple Rootstocks by Tree Size Bud 118 Seedling Mark B.9 M.9 (Small) T337 M.9 (Large) Pajam 2, EMLA Nic29 M.26 M.7 MM106 15-30% 30-35% 35-40% 40-50% 50-75% >75% G.11 G.41* G.16 G.210* G.214* G.222 G.935 G.30 G.202 G.890* G.969 Fire blight resistant Replant tolerant * Wooly apple aphid resistant Modified for Washington State conditions after Terence Robinson, Cornell-Geneva; Gennaro Fazio, USDA-ARS Geneva
Matching requires knowledge of both Scion and Rootstock What WEAKNESSES might the scion have that could be mitigated by rootstocks? What STRENGTHS might the rootstock have that might be imparted on the scion?
G.11 Tree size similar to M.9 T337. Very high yield efficiency Large fruit size Tolerant to Replant Disease Resistant to Fire Blight but not immune. Resistant to Crown Rot Susceptible to Wooly Apple Aphid Good rooting in stoolbed Geneva 11 M9-T337 Courtesy of Stefano Musacchi
G.41 G.41 Fuji CIV 2008 M.9 vigor Very high yield efficient Highly productive Very precocious Resistant to replant disease Very cold hardy Does well in warmer climates (Mexico) Highly Resistant to Fire Blight and Crown Rot and Wooly Apple Aphid Requires tissue culture mother plants for stoolbed
Rooting of G.41 Apple Rootstock from tissue culture plants
G.935 Vigor intermediate between M.9 Pajam 2 and M.26 Very high yield efficiency Very cold hardy Resistant to Replant Disease Resistant to Fire Blight and Crown Rot Susceptible to Wooly Apple Aphid Some susceptibility to latent viruses
G.214 Vigor similar to M.9 Paj.2 Highly yield efficient Highly productive (most U.S. trials yields 100-125% of M.9 check) Good precocity Resistant to Fire Blight, Crown Rot and Wooly Apple Aphid Replant tolerant Very good stool bed propagation G.214 Vantage, WA
G.202 Size similar to M.26 Precocious, productive Resistant to woolly apple aphid, fire blight, and crown rot Tolerant to apple replant disease Good choice for weak growing cultivars like Honeycrisp Moderate rooting in stoolbed
G.210 Vigor similar to M.7 Precocious, productive Yield efficiency similar or better than M.9 Resistant to apple replant disease. Resistance to woolly apple aphid, fire blight, and crown rot. Good rooting in stoolbed few spines. Mostly for Organic Production
G.969 Vigor between M.26 y M.7 Very efficient and productive Very cold tolerant Resistant to fire blight Resistant to Phytopthora Resistant to Wolly Apple Aphid Good Anchorage Excellent rootstock for weak scions like Honeycrisp
G.890 Vigor between M.7 and MM.106 Replacements for G.30 Free standing Precocious, productive Yield efficiency similar or better than M.9 Resistance to woolly apple aphid, fire blight, and crown rot. Tolerance to apple replant disease. Good rooting in stoolbed few spines. Mostly for processing industry G.890
Commercialization of Geneva Rootstocks in North America Licensed Nurseries: Treco (Oregon) Willow Drive Nursery (Washington) Willamette Nursery (Oregon) Copenhaven (Oregon) Mori Nursery (Canada) Kit Johnston (Oregon) Todd Cameron (Washington) KCK Farms (Oregon) Van Well Nursery (Oregon) Helios Nursery (Washington) Phytelligence (Washington) Gold Crown Nursery (Washington) Consortio Sacramento (Mexico) Rootstocks G.11 G.41 G.214 G.935 G.222 G.202 G.969 G.30 G.210 G.890
Kit Johnston Nursery Field of Geneva Apple Rootstock G.41 planted in 2011, 2012 first crop in 2012
ProTree Nursery
Copenhaven Nursery G.41 Stool bed
Treco Nursery New G.41 Stool bed
Willamette Nursery
Willamette Nursery Added 10 new greenhouses to accommodate new cutting production of Geneva Rootstocks
North American Plants Subsidiary of Agromillora
Willow Drive Nursery Family Operated G.41 budded liners
Van Well Nursery Family Operated
C&O Nursery Family Operated Field of G.41, G.935 and G.202 budded plants Finished trees (Honeycrisp, Gala, others) on Geneva Rootstocks
Cameron Nursery G.890 Stool bed
Gold Crown Nursery Stemilt G.935, G.41, CG.4814 new stool beds
Phytelligence
Helios Nursery
Sierra Gold Nursery
KCK Nursery
Current and Future Work How do different scions behave (Honeycrisp)? How about different rootstock germplasm? How does the specific nutrient potential of each rootstock affect fruit quality/size? What root and stem genes are involved in uptake and transport? How do different forms of nutrient genes impact tree size, productivity, disease resistance on a larger scale (orchard)?
Research work on apple rootstocks features many collaborations and institutions Cornell University: USDA ARS AFRS Kearneysville: T. Robinson (Orchard Systems) J. Norelli (Fire Blight, Transgenics) Steve Hoying (Extension) C. Bassett (Stress Physiology) Kenong Xu (genomics) Tom Tworkosky (Architecture) L. Chang (Horticulture - Nutrition) Michael Glenn (Physiology) H. Aldwinckle, K. Cox (Plant Pathology) USDA ARS Wenatchee: S. Brown (Scion Breeding) M. Mazzola (Plant Pathology) Michigan State University: Y. Zhu (Genomics) G. Lang PENN State University: Washington State University: T. McNellis K. Evans, (Scion Breeding) Phil Jensen (Genomics) Stefano Musacchi J. Schupp (Horticulture) Lee Kalcits Over 40 scientists as NC-140 Cameron Peace collaborators B. Beers Washington Tree Fruit Research USDA ARS: Commission Tom Auvil Mike Grusak (Nutrition) International Collaborators T. Chao (Apple Collection)
ONLINE RESOURCES for Geneva Rootstocks Type Geneva apple rootstocks in Search Engine New York Fruit Quarterly CCTEC Website http://www.cctec.cornell.edu/plant s/geneva-apple-rootstocks- Comparison-Chart-120911.pdf Www.nc140.org E-xtension http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/doc s.htm?docid=15654
Thank You!