Columnar apple trees and their varieties

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate selected varieties of columnar apple trees. The trees were monitored over a 3-year period and the focus was on growth, yield and health data. At the same time the quality of the harvested fruit was evaluated after short storage. The varieties Polka, Bolero, Charlotte, Mc. Intosh Wijcik, Waltz and the control variety Golden Delicious were grown on rootstock M 9. The decisive data characterising the variety were: the height of the elongation, formation of the lateral fruiting spurs, number of flowers and the amount of harvested fruit. No less important for growth was the health condition of the leaf area and particularly the incidence of fungus diseases; here the monitoring was carried out on six dates and was focused on apple scab and powdery mildew of apple. Infestation of the variety Charlotte with powdery mildew of apple was significantly heavier than infestation of the other varieties. The variety Charlotte was also significantly more affected with apple scab and differed from the other less infested varieties. The highest number of ripe fruit was produced by the variety Polka; significantly less fruit was produced by the varieties Bolero, Mc. Intosh Wijcik and Waltz. The least number of fruit but the heaviest was produced by the variety Charlotte; the weight of the fruit of this variety was significantly the highest. The variety Polka gave the highest yields. Evaluations of the organoleptic qualities included the appearance of the fruit; highly appraised in this respect was the control variety Golden Delicious, followed by Bolero and Mc. Intosh Wijcik. In terms of the appearance the variety Waltz received the lowest scores. The varieties Mc. Intosh Wijcik and Charlotte had the thickest skin, while the skin of varieties Polka, Golden Delicious and Waltz were of no concern. In terms of the consistence of the flesh the highest-ranking variety was Golden Delicious, followed by Bolero and Charlotte. The juiciest variety was Golden Delicious, followed by Mc. Intosh Wijcik and Waltz; the least juicy was the variety Charlotte. The tastiest variety was the control variety Golden Delicious, followed by Mc. Intosh Wijcik and Waltz; the least tasty was the variety Bolero. In the overall sum of points appraising the fruit, flesh and taste the variety Golden Delicious was at the top of the list, followed by Mc. Intosh Wijcik and Waltz.

Keywords

• columnar apple trees
• growth types
• fruit-bearing
• apple scab
• powdery mildew