Evaluation Of Dwarf Cultivation Of Some Apple Varieties In Longdong Region

Longdong region of Gansu Province is located in the Loess Plateau,with superior natural conditions,which is an important high-quality apple producing area in China.At present,the main apple varieties in this area are Fuji,and there are problems of single variety structure and unreasonable structure matching.In this study,40 excellent varieties introduced by Gansu Qingcheng Apple Experimental Station of Northwest A&F University were selected as the study objects.The phenological period,main cultivated characters and rust resistance were observed and compared,and the fruit quality and disease resistance were evaluated.The aims of this study were to provide technical basis for the optimization of the region’s variety structure,the main results of the study are as follows:1.The phenological periods of different varieties are different.The flowering period is from mid-April to early May.The flowering period of ’Orin’ starts and ends the earliest;’Ralls’,’Jonathan’ and ’Huahong’ have the latest flowering period,and ’Ralls’ flowering period ends at the latest.The maturity period is from early August to late October,the earliest for ’Huashuo’and the last for ’Pink Lady’.2.There were no significant differences in tree growth performance and fruit quality among the five Gala varieties,but there were differences in fruit coloration.The fruit surface coloring of ’Jinshiji’,’Gale Gala’ and ’Mitchgla Gala’ are better than others.3.Among the 14 Fuji varieties,there were great differences in coloration.The earlymaturing variety ’Ryohka’ and the late-maturing varieties of ’Yanfu No.3’ and ’Yanfu No.10’have the best coloring performance.The two short-branched Fuji of ’Yanfu No.6’ and’Liquanduanfu’ were grafted on the self-rooted stock of M26,and the tree growth was too weak to be popularized in this area.4.Among the 21 new and excellent varieties tested,the comprehensive performance of’Huahong’ was outstanding.The ’Jazz’ and ’Yueyanghong’ have moderate growth and good fruit quality,but the fresh taste is sour.The fruit quality of ’Honeycrisp’ is outstanding.The comprehensive performance of ’Ruixue’,’Ruiyang’,’Ruixianghong’ and ’Envy’ are outstanding and have great potential for development in the region.5.According to the investigation of rust resistance,the Fuji strain,and the’Jonathan’and’Golden Delicious’are highly susceptible to the disease.’Huashuo’,’Qinguan’and’Braeburn’were infected.Other varieties are more resistant to rust.