Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/629538
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER FEBRUARY 1, 2016 33 Geneva 214: One of the high-per- forming Geneva rootstocks, G.214 is the first of the Genevas known for being very replant tolerant. There have been a number of issues getting it into produc- tion — specifically, identity mistakes in propagation — but G.214 is finally headed to the stool beds. Washington trials have shown great stands with good transplant. The first group of 214 is available at some nurseries this year in limited quantity. Fazio said the new Washington variety WA 38, known as Cosmic Crisp, would do well on G.214. Geneva 210: Another high- performing Geneva clone, G.210 has done the best at an unfumigated research replant site in Wapato, Washington. "It's been an excellent performer," Auvil said. "It's coming out of tissue culture, stool beds are starting to show some production, and availability will dramatically increase over the next two to three years." Some limited availability now. Geneva 222: A good M.9-type cul- tivar that is somewhat commercially available, G.222 is a good choice in areas where fire blight is a concern. However, it's not very replant tolerant. Fresh ground is good. There are limited quantities available. Geneva 814: G.814 has been shown to be virus sensitive and must be paired with clean scion wood. In a couple of trials with Gala in Washington, the rootstock has grown a box-size bigger fruit than G.214. It's a rootstock that has a good balance of calcium, potas- sium and phosphorous, Fazio said, but the causal effects of large fruit size on bitter pit with this rootstock is not yet known. Budagovsky 10: A very cold hardy rootstock that is resistant to fire blight and easy to propagate with few side shoots, Bud 10 has not yet been widely used in Washington. Bud 10 is highly susceptible to replant disease, which means it doesn't provide much improvement over bigger M.9 clones, Fazio said. It's a rootstock research- ers are still learning about in the Northwest. Malling 26: M.26 produces a signifi- cantly lower crop than M.9. In some locations, M.26 has shown very high susceptibility to crown rot, has rela- tively high susceptibility to fire blight and is among the worst rootstocks in terms of susceptibility to replant disease. "Don't use it," Fazio said. "It's been a productive stock for certain things, but it's done its job." Geneva 30: A very hard cultivar to propagate, G.30 production is declin- ing. Only one or two liner nurseries are producing G.30, Auvil said, and the rootstock has not proven itself horticul- turally to be an extremely productive, large fruit rootstock. "But if you were a Gala grower, you'd love to grow Gala on G.30," he said. "It's just very hard to get." Watch the graft unions in the first two years. Geneva 890: A commercially available rootstock that has wider distribution, G.890 will probably be competitive with G.41 in terms of tree availability and volume, Auvil said. Bitter pit is a concern, due to its high vigor, but G.890 seems to be an excel- lent replacement tree in difficult soils. Fazio also noted that the rootstock has shined in extremely harsh replant areas. Geneva 202: G.202 is a rootstock Auvil has removed from his lists because it produces one of the biggest trees, failing to "calm down" over time, yet is among the least produc- tive rootstocks. The cultivar has been widely planted in New Zealand and is being sold in Mexico, but is not as well adapted to the Northwest. Malling 7 EMLA: This rootstock offers significant crop density issues, Auvil said, and blind wood is made much more severe. Fazio noted the rootstock is easy to propagate, but suckers a lot, is not fire blight resistant and not particularly productive. Malling 106 EMLA: A very difficult combination with vigorous scions like Granny Smith or Fuji, M.106 EMLA can show a lack of productivity. In addition, it's the "canary in the mine" for crown rot, Auvil said, meaning it's highly susceptible. Budagovsky 118: A very vigor- ous rootstock that values dry, sandy orchard sites but is adaptable to var- ious soil types, Bud 118 is extremely winter hardy but is not replant toler- ant. Productivity is an issue, as it tends to grow smaller fruit every other year and suffers annual bearing challenges, Auvil said. There also has been some bitter pit in fruit in Washington. • TJ MULLINAX/GOOD FRUIT GROWER "Irrigation Specialists has been working with Goose Ridge Vineyards from the beginning by providing engineering and planning solutions to meet our irrigation needs. They've implemented the latest technology and reliable equipment to best handle our speci c irrigation requirements. We have a dependable relationship that a ords us quick and knowledgeable response to questions and problem solving. Irrigation Specialists have been a valuable resource as we grow and maintain our complex irrigation system." Robert Rivera Vineyard Manager Goose Ridge Vineyards • Engineering & Planning • Technology Savvy • Precision Implementation • Dependable Products • Reliable Service 815 Wallace Way 2410 N. 4th Ave. 1155 S. Broadway 81156 Hwy 395 North Grandview, WA Pasco, WA Othello, WA Hermiston, OR 509-882-2060 509-547-1761 509-488-5623 541-567-6370 800-959-1535 800-595-1536