Performance of New Apple Varieties under Cold Dessert Conditions of Lahaul and Spiti Valley

High density orcharding and the quest for high quality produce is gaining day by day and extending its spread
into the dry temperate regions. Lahaul and Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh, India is known for its quality apple
production but is a quite fragile ecotype with high degree of vulnerability to the climatic changes. Agro-
ecologically the region is quite variable from wet temperate conditions to highly dry temperate dessert
conditions. Intensive apple cultivation therefore in the region needs critical prior assessment for its sustained
success. The studies presented in this research article discuss the expected performance score of different clonal
and seedling rootstocks, spur and high coloring cultivars in high densities of planting. Six apple varieties on
different rootstocks under high-density plantations were evaluated for growth, yield and quality parameters. The
experiment evaluated six apple varieties ‘Super Chief/MM 106’, ‘Red Velox/M9’, ‘Jeromine/M9’, ‘Gale
Gala/M9’,‘Redlum Gala/M9’ and ‘Auvial Early Fuji/M9’ planted at a spacing of 2.5×1.0 m2 in Randomized
Block Design, with three replications. From the evaluation of data on growth, yield and quality traits, it was
found that var. ‘Super Chief/MM 106’, followed by cultivars ‘Red Velox/M9’ and ‘Jeromine/M9’, has recorded
better horticultural performance than other varieties studied. Among different varieties ‘Super Chief/MM 106’
recorded maximum annual shoot extension growth (25.72 cm), trunk girth (45.16 mm) and tree height (290.20
cm), tree spread (322.31 E-W and 291.15 cm N-S), fruit Breadth (80.17 mm), fruit weight (213.08 g fruit-1),
TSS (12.60 °Brix), fruit length (72.82 mm), fruit yield (4.61 kg tree-1) and productivity (18.44 MT Hac-1).
Cultivar ‘Super Chief/MM 106’ was found to be superior for growth, flowering, yield and quality
characteristics.