Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/560612
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER SEPTEMBER 2015 31 Back in 1968, he said, a bad fi re blight year had just killed many trees on M.9, and collar rot was wiping out trees on MM.106 in New York's heavy soils. "We started thinking maybe it was time to start making rootstocks for New York and not for England," Cummins said. All the Malling and Malling- Merton rootstocks then available were selected in England based on their performance there. The early goals of the Geneva program were broad—finding fire blight resistance, crown and root rot resistance, and root- stocks capable of fending off replant disease without soil fumigation. "We were not as 'scion tuned' as we now are," Cummins said. Designer rootstocks Robinson said that was one of the key features of the Van Acker trial: Dozens of rootstocks—some still being evaluated for potential release—are being tested for their performance on this one variety. "We need to look at smaller things," Robinson said. "Our goal should be to create a designer rootstock for a specifi c variety and a specifi c location." The data in this trial should easily steer the Van Ackers to G.890; the other top performers have not yet been released for commercial use. In the trial at Van Acker Farms, the top perform- ing rootstocks for cumulative Honeycrisp yield were CG.4001, G.890, CG.5237, and G.30, all of which pro- duced from 100 to 125 pounds per tree through their fi fth leaf. By comparison, M.9 Nic 29—the most vigorous of the M.9 clones and best suited for weak-growing culti- vars—produced about 50 pounds. "With an expensive variety like Honeycrisp, that's $50,000 to $70,000 per acre in lost income over six years," Robinson said. Evaluated on an index of biennial bearing, M.9 Nic 29 rated 0.8, with 1 being the worst possible, compared with 0.3 to 0.5 for CG.4001, G.890, CG5257, and G.70. In the tests, biennial bearing and lower cumulative yields paralleled each other. On another measure, average fruit size, rootstock did not appear to have a large effect. Robinson noted that, in the case of Honeycrisp, fi nding a rootstock that would reduce fruit size might be desirable. Cummins' career as a rootstock breeder was undertaken with a plant pathologist partner, Dr. Herb Aldwinckle, and the two evaluated some half-million rootstocks. In the selection process, the rootstocks were challenged with diseases, and those that failed were eliminated from the tests, no matter what other virtues they might have. "We killed a lot of trees," Cummins said. When Cummins retired, Cornell sought increased financial help from its longtime partner, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the program continued as a joint venture with Fazio as the rootstock breeder. Much of his work focuses on evaluation of rootstocks bred and selected by Cummins and Aldwinckle. After retiring, Cummins started Cummins Nursery, in Ithaca, New York, now run by his son, Steve. • PHOTOS BY RICHARD LEHNERT/GOOD FRUIT GROWER In a rootstock trial, the differences in size, shape, and bearing capacity of a single variety on different rootstocks is quite apparent. Jim Cummins, "the father of Geneva rootstocks." PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. phone (616) 784-3046 • fax: (616) 784-5852 • 4689–8 mile rd nW, Conklin, michigan 49403 www.philbrownwelding.com BUILDING theBEST since 1964! Box Rotator Box Shuttle Double Fork Ground Hog Frost Fan Economy LIft 3-Point Forks 3-Point Hi Lift Conveyors Freight-Mate Durand Wayland Sprayers We offer a full line of fruit & vegetable equipment: Contact Vine Tech Equipment your Northwest Phil Brown Dealer 509-788-0900 www.vinetechequipment.com A properly planted tree produces like no other. • Adjustable tree depth. • Works on stony and tough ground. • Shoe swings for handling. • Electronic distance marker also available. • Two row tool bar available. TREE PLANTER Self-Propelled Work Platform Hydraulic Work Platform (sold separately) can be mounted on any available running gear. Growers & Fruit Industry Truck Buyers. . . Partner up with your GMC Business Elite Dealer Lee Peterson Motors Every dollar counts in the ag business, and you need hard working trucks from a reliable dealer you can trust, your GMC Business Elite Dealer. 410 S. First Street • Yakima • 509-575-6372 L P MOTORS .com www Click! Drive! Save! MON-FRI 8 AM - 6 PM SAT 8 AM - 5 PM SUN 11 AM - 4 PM Business Elite Dealer. 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab Standard Box Rich Ausink Fleet Manager Jim Peterson General Manager The right truck customized to your specific agricultural businees needs. rich@lpmotors.com jim@lpmotors.com