Apples Flashcards
Genus
Family
The apple is believed to have originated from a cross between a primitive plum and a flower called ………….
Commercial Apple:
Malus spp.
meadow sweet
M. pumila
Apple Industry Development in Bhutan
hihestt producer and lowest producer
New entrant - early sixties
1969 - Horticulture Research Station
1970 – a planting fever in the western regions
1980s - apple export started
1990s- new varieties and market
2003- the first subtropical cultivar is released.
highest is Paro and Lowest is Bumthang
Medicinal value
Anti-diarrhoeic and Astringent
Digestive aid: Malic and tartaric acids help neutralise the acid by-products & cleanses and soothes the digestive tract.
Tonic and Nutritive: Rich vitamin and mineral content.
Digestive: Raw apples have also useful enzymes, which aid food digestion.
Hypocholesterolaemic: Helps to lower cholesterol levels.
Anti-microbial.
12.7 percent
Botany
fruit set
growth habit
Flowers contain 5 petals, sepals and pistils & 20 stamens Unsatisfactory fruit set is due either to a Lack of pollinating insects Lack of pollinating trees (pollenizer
Central flowers is ealrlier and larger known as King flower
5-8 flowers and leaves in the buds
buds are produced on the tips of the shoot which are produced spurs on 2n year old wood
Flowers and Pollination
Hermaphrodite
some are partlyy sterile and most are not
cross pollination will improve fruti set
Climate
Termperate zone
1000 chilling hours at 7C active growing season.21-24 C
altitude-1500-2700masl
Bhutans ideal range-1981-2743
sunshine and aspect
NE for low altitides and SW for high altitudes
Soil and rainfall
optimum ph-6-6.5
optimum rainfall-300 mm
loamy sand to silt loam
Problems
water stress reduces the number and size of the fruit triggering June fruit drop
flowers and young shoots are damaged by frost at temperature of below-2 after open cluster
High winds causes damages to the tree and fruit drop
hard pan soil causes problems with root development
excessive rain or humidity decrease fruit quality
increases sooty blotch and fly speck damage
Cultivars in Bhutan
Royal, Red, and golden delicious
Bajo apple, lobo, Red free, Red chief and Jonathon are newly released varieties
Anna is the only sub-tropical cultivar presently available to farmers in Bhutan
Red delicious (1994)
Red Delicious is the most widely grown apple in the world, red with darker red streaks.
It is an excellent keeper known for the consistency of its texture, bright red colour and conical shape.
It is a sweet apple, lightly aromatic with a firm, cream-colored flesh.
Golden delicious (1994)
The Golden Delicious has a greenish-yellow skin that turns gold, and its yellow flesh is crisp and juicy .
It is a sweet, medium-to-large apple, and an excellent keeper
Subtropical apple (Anna) released as Bajo apple
Existing apple cultivars are suitable for limited colder areas (Western region)
Suitable for warmer areas
Fruit quality is good and similar to Red delicious cultivar
Harvest at the end of July under Bajo condition Released in 9th VRC meeting (2003) TSS: 11.8% Fruit wt: 230 gm Plup colour: Yellowish Red Harvest: Secone week of July Alt: 1000-1700
Red Chief (2004) Promising cultivar
, Semi dwarf, full spur-type, requires a vigorous rootstock (MM111), Heavy bearer, needs thinning & pruning Blossom: mid season Pollination: G. Delicious Susceptible to mouldy core, scab & rust Maturity: Red Delicious season Yield 2004: 7333 t/acres Medium sized, long conical fruit, colors up early into a strong red at maturity
Red Free
Tip bearer
Consistent cropper, holds until maturity, uneven ripening,
Blossom: Mid season
Pollination: Red Delicious
Scab immune,
Maturity: Early (-50 days Red Delicious) mid Aug.
Storage: short- 1 month, good for early fresh market.
Adaptable to a wide climatic range
Yield l 2004: 9840 t/acres
Medium-large, flat round, glossy deep red fruit, semi upright,
Nursery production
Rootstock raising
Crab apple seedling
clonal rootstock.
Clonal Rootstock Stooling Trench layering. Cuttings Micro-propagation T or Chip budding & whip grafting
Rootstocks
Dwarfing (3x3m) MM9 Semi-Dwarf (4.5 x 4.5m) MM106 Vigorous (6x6m) MM111
Orchard design
Training
Trangular
Square
Contour system
Pollinaters should be no more than 2 rows from the cultivar.
(2:1 Ratio)
Plant January-Mid March,
irrigate, mulch & provide support by staking
Commercial:
Open Centre & Centre Leader.
Kitchen Gardens
Espalier & Cordon system
Pruning
Removal of unwanted and diseased branches Heading back, thinning our techniques is used. Ensure good quality fruits Provide strong frame work Ensure good light and air penetration Permit easy cultural operation Eliminate biennial bearing Removes disease and damage wood
Summer and winter pruning is done Suckers. Stubs or broken branches. Downward-growing branches Rubbing or crossing branches Shaded interior branches Competing leaders Narrow crotches Whorls Heading back Encourages new growth.
Notching Promotes growth of a bud into a shoot Thinning out More air & light
notching
Other practices
notch above the fruit bud develops into a growth bud and below into a fruit bud
Mulch
Hay, straw, sawdust, organic matter
Intercropping in Bhutan
In orchards with good soil farmers intercrop soya beans, potato and chili.
Orchards with steep slopes & poor soil are left fallow.
Weed control
Mulching, cultivation & sprays
Pests & Diseases
Codling Moth Wooly Aphid Stem & Twig borer European & 2 Spotted Mites Apple Scab Fire blight Powdery Mildew
Maturity Prediction & Testing
Optimum maturity = minimum post harvest problems + maximum post harvest quality.
Optimum harvest date depends on market requirements (& storage time).
Longer storage = earlier harvest time.
Market distance = earlier harvest time
better planning and organisation
Factors
Colour not a reliable indicator of maturity
maturity varies from one block to another (& can vary on the same tree)
tree age, rootstock and position on tree influence fruit maturity
“harvest window” varies with variety, season, rootstock, storage requirements
climate and nutrition affect maturity and duration of harvest
