Evaluation of apple cultivars under sub-temperate mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The evaluation of 15 apple cultivars was carried out at Progeny cum Demonstration Orchard, Kwagdhar, district Sirmaur, under sub-temperate region of Himachal Pradesh during 2010 and 2011. The maximum tree height (3.29 cm), tree spread (1.82 m) were recorded in ‘Fuji Kiku’, whereas, tree volume (8.34 m3), scion girth (30.25 cm), annual shoot growth (39.97 cm) and leaf area (38.77 cm2) in ‘Gala Mischala’. The highest fruit set, yield and productivity were recorded (69.07%, 9.68 kg/tree and 24.21 t/ha, respectively) in ‘Oregon Spur-II’. The bigger size fruits in terms of length (59.67 cm), breadth (67.12 cm), and ascorbic acid content (56.37 mg/100 g) were found in ‘Red Chief’, while, maximum fruit weight (155.6 g) was observed in Silver Spur. The highest TSS (15.95%) was recorded in ‘Gale Gala’, whereas, more acidic (0.90%) fruits were found in ‘Breaburn’. The maximum total sugars (11.94%) were found in ‘Sansa’ and highest reducing sugars (6.56%) were found in Oregon Spur II. The best fruit shape and surface colour was observed in ‘Super Chief” and ‘Camspur’. The longer duration of flowering (16 days) were recorded in cultivar Sun Fuji and Silver Spur. The cultivar ‘Super Chief’ registered maximum spur density (10.80/ cm2), and lowest fruit drop (18.09%), whereas, ‘Fuji Kiku’ and ‘Gale Gala’ recorded the least spur density (2.56 and 3.19/ cm2, respectively). The cultivar Pink Lady was earliest to flower whereas; ‘Red Fuji’ was last to harvest. From the present investigations it may be concluded that ‘Red Chief’, ‘Super Chief’, ‘Oregon Spur II’ and ‘Camspur’ in Delicious group, ‘Gala Mischala’ in Gala group, and ‘Auvil Early Fuji’ and ‘Sun Fuji’ in Fuji group have good yield potential, earliness and better fruit quality within their respective groups and may be recommended for cultivation in sub-temperate conditions of Himachal Pradesh.