Apple rootstocks currently available to the South African apple industry have various shortcomings. Disadvantages include excess vigour, low yield efficiency, lack of precocity, poor adaptability, and high susceptibility to pests and diseases. Recent studies have found some of the Geneva® rootstocks to be significantly more yield efficient and precocious than standard rootstocks.
HORTGRO Science currently has five rootstock evaluation sites with a ‘more dwarfing’ and an adjacent ‘more vigorous’ planting at each site. Evaluation trees were planted in the Grabouw (Oak Valley, Breëvlei), Langkloof (Helderwater) and in the Ceres (Bokveldskloof, Môrester) region.