ANNUAL REPORT OF COOPERATIVE REGIONAL PROJECTS
Supported by Allocations of the Regional Research Fund,
Hatch Act, as Amended August 11, 1955
January 1 to December 31, 1995



PROJECT: NE-183, Multidisciplinary Evaluation of New Apple Cultivars, Vermont

COOPERATING AGENCIES AND PRINCIPAL LEADERS:

Joseph F. Costante*
Professor
Plant and Soil Science Dept.
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT

Lorraine Berkett
Professor
Plant and Soil Science Dept.
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT


PROGRESS OF THE WORK AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

A Horticulture Planting was established at the University of Vermont Horticultural Research Center in So. Burlington, VT, in April, 1995, according to Objective I. of the NE-183 Regional Research Project. Twenty-five different cultivar/rootstock combinations were planted in a blocked experimental design (Fig. 1), however, a shortage of trees from the nursery resulted in only one replication out of five having a full complement of experimental units the other four blocks are incomplete. The planting site is a very sandy loam, so all trees are individually irrigated.

At planting, trunk circumference was measured at a point 30 cm. above the soil line, and a soil sample was collected for analysis. Trees have been trained and pruned during the 1995 growing season per directions issued by the Horticulture subcommittee. A leaf sample was also collected in early August and forwarded to the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory for nutrient analysis.

At the end of the 1995 growing season, trunk circumference will again be measured, as well as canopy spread, shoot length, growth habit, and tree mortality according to protocols established by the Horticulture subcommittee. All data will be forwarded to the Project statistician for analysis and compilation.


USEFULNESS OF FINDINGS

Multidisciplinary evaluation of new apple cultivars will provide critical information to insure the success of North American apple growers in what has rapidly become a very competitive, global market. Armed with the information generated by this Project, orchardists will be more confident about planting, growing, and selling the new apple varieties that are sure to have a place in the world fruit market as we approach the year 2000.

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR:

Tree pruning, training, general maintenance and data collection will continue to be performed under the direction of the Horticulture subcommittee. A small crop of apples should be available for testing in the Planting's second leaf, thereby generating some initial impressions about the relative fruit quality of these new cultivars.


PUBLICATIONS ISSUED OR MANUSCRIPTS APPROVED DURING THE YEAR:

Berkett, L.P. and D. Schmitt. 1995. 'IPM News' - Degree day model for PC management is worth a try. The Apple Press. 19(2): 5.

Berkett, L.P. and D. Schmitt. 1995. 'IPM News' - Results of the 1994 plum curculio research. The Apple Press. 19(1): 10-13.

Berkett, L.P. and J. Clements. 1995. Disease-resistant 'Redfree' Apples Steal the Show. Northeast Sustainable Apple Production Newsletter. 5(2): 13.

Bower, K.N., L.P. Berkett and J.F. Costante. 1995. Non-target effect of a fungicide spray program on phytophagous and predacious mite populations in a scab resistant apple orchard. Environmental Entomology. 24: 423-30.

Schmitt, D. and L.P. Berkett. 1995. Evaluation of a new trap for monitoring plum curculio (Conatrachelus nenuphar (Herbst)) in New England apple orchards. Proc. 101th Annual Meeting, Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association, Inc. Vol. 101: 109-114.