INTRODUCTION

• Premier table fruit of the world.

• A typical temperate fruit tree.
• > 80% of the world’s supply being produced in Europe.
• Major producers of apple in the world: USA, China,
France, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Romania, Poland,
Germany, U.K., New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Japan,
Ezypt etc.
• Major apple producing belts in India:
-North West Hill Region: J&K, HP and Uttrakhand
- North East Hill Region: Arunachal Pradesh
 HISTORY
• First apple orchard in H.P. : Bundrole
( Kullu Valley) by Captain A.A.Lee, an
Englishman around 1870.
• Alexander Coutt’s introduced many
apple vars. in his orchard called
“ Hillock Head” at Mashobra in 1887.
• S.N. Stokes introduced famous
Delicious vars. In 1918 at Kotgarh
( Shimla Distt.).
 ORIGIN

• Eastern Europe and Western Asia-

regions which include Asia Minor,
Caucasus, Central Asia and Himalayas
 Climate
 Areas located at altitudes ranging between 1500-2700 m a.m.s.l. are
suitable.
 Can be grown in areas which experience 800-1600 chilling hours
 Temperature during growing season should be around 21-24°C
 Sites located on North-Eastern aspect at lower elevation are suitable
 For optimum growth and fruiting, it requires 100-125cm of annual
rainfall equally distributed over the growing season
 Excessive rains and fog near fruit maturity is undesirable
 Proper drainage should be made in heavy flat soils having high
water table
 Areas exposed to high velocity winds are not desirable
 Dray winds during blooms desiccate flowers and hamper bee
activity
 Areas should be free from hail storms and spring frost
 Temperature below 4.4°C at bloom inhibits bee activity and prevents
pollen germination
 Fully opened blossoms may be killed at temperature below –2.2°C
 Topography and soil
 Sites with gentle slopes are generally more
suitable than flat or too steep areas
 Site at the middle of the slope is more
desirable as compared to top and bottom of
the ridge.
 Loam soils rich in organic matter with pH 5.8
to 6.2 and having proper drainage are more
suitable.
 Soil should be free from hard substrata and
water lodging .
 Recommended cultivars

Standard cultivars
• Early : Tydeman’s early Worcester (P),
Mollie’s delicious, Summer queen (P)
• Mid season: Starking delicious (Royal
delicious), Red delicious, Rich-a-red,
Vance delicious, Top red, Lord
lambourne (P), Skyline supreme
delicious, Hardeman.
• Late: Golden delicious (P), Yellow
Newton, Granny smith
• Spur type cultivars : Red spur, Gold
spur, Red-Chief, Oregon spur-II, Well
spur, Bright-N-early, Silver spur.
• Low chilling cultivars:
- Table purpose: Michal and Schlomith
– Processing purpose: Tropical beauty and
Parlin’s beauty.
• Scab resistance : Red free.
 Varieties in other states
J&K: Benoni, Irish Peach,
Cox’s Orange Pippin, Lal Cider,
Razakwar, Ambri, Apirouge,
Golden Delicious, Lal Ambri,
Maharajki, Red Delicious,
Sunehari
Uttrakhand: Early Shanburry, Fanny,
Golden Delicious,
Cortland, Red Delicious
McIntosh, Buckingham,
Rymer
 Varieties
Triploid :Baldwin, Winesap,
Gravenstein, Rhode Island Green
Hybrids:
1. Lal Ambri: Red Delicious X Ambri
2. Sunehari: Ambri X Golden Delicious
3. Ambred: Red Delicious X Ambri
4. Ambrich: Rich-a-Red X Ambri
5. Ambroyal: Starking DeliciousXAmbri
6. Chaubattia Anupam: Early Shanburry X
Red Delicious
 Proportion of cultivars for an
ideal apple orchard

Delicious group ( Main) : 67%

• Pollinizer (Golden Delcious, Granny
smith, Red gold, Tydeman’s early
Worcester, Lord lambourne) : 33%.
• For hail prone areas, there should be
50% pollinizer.
 Rootstocks
• Seedling rootstock : Crab apple
(Malus baccata).
• Clonal rootstock :
Category Rootstock Remarks
V. Dwarfing M27 Weak anchorage
Dwarfing M9, M26 -do-
Semi- Dwarfing MM106, M7, M4 MM106 susceptible
to collar rot
Semi-vigorous M2, MM109, MM111 MM111 resistant to
drought
Vigorous M16, M25, MM104 M25 is precocious
 Propagation Method

 Tongue grafting: February – March

 Cleft grafting : February – March
(Top working method)
 Chip budding : Mid June and Mid
September
 T-budding : May – June
 Layout and planting

• In steep areas planting should be done in the

contour system
• If terraces already exist, trees can be planted in
the middle of terrace at appropriate spacing.
• In valley areas, systems like square or
hexagonal can be adopted.
• High density planting should be taken up in
areas where soils are fertile, irrigation facilities
are available, soils are flat and free from high
velocity winds.
 Planting Distance
Variety Rootstock Vigour of tree Planting No. of
distance plants/ha
(m)
Non spur Seedling Vigorous 7.5 178

Non spur MM111; MM109 Semi-vigorous 6.0 278

Non spur MM106; M7 Semi-dwarf 4.5 494

Non spur M9 Dwarf 1.5 4444

Spur Seedling Semi-Vigorous 5.0 400

Spur MM111; MM109 Semi-dwarf 3.5 816

Spur MM106; M7 Dwarf 3.0 1111

 Planting
• Time : December – March. Early planting is
desirable
• Irrigate newly planted trees to get high
survival rate
• While planting roots should be intact and
spread in their natural position before
covering with soil
• Tree should not be planted deeper than their
natural position in the nursery
• Graft union should be 8-10” above ground
level to avoid collar rot
• Before planting, nursery plants should be
dipped in copper fungicide solution
 Training and Pruning

• Modified central leader

system: Trees on
seedling rootstocks are
trained on this system.
• Spindle bush system: For
trees on dwarf rootstocks,
most popular and efficient
system.
• Pruning should be done
during late winter or early
spring.

Modified Central Leader

 Orchard soil management

• Weeds in tree basins should be kept under check by

hand-weeding or by using herbicides and mulching
• Application of grass mulch (10cm thick) plus
Glyphosate @ 800ml / 800L water/ha is
recommended
• Black alkathene has also been found useful to
control weeds in higher hills.
• Green manure crops like sunflowers and beans can
be used to improve texture and nutrient status of soil
• Growing of grasses and legume in the orchard can
improve soil fertility, prevent soil erosion apart from
controlling the weeds and other shrubs.
 Manure and fertilizers

Age (Yrs) FYM (kg) N (g) CAN (g) P-2O-5 (g) SSP (g) K2O (g) MOP (g)

1 10 70 280 35 220 70 120

2 20 140 560 70 440 140 240
3 30 210 840 105 660 210 360
4 40 280 1120 140 880 280 480
5 50 650 1400 175 1100 350 600
6 60 420 1680 210 1320 420 720
7 70 490 1960 245 1540 490 840
8 80 560 2240 280 1760 560 960
9 90 630 2520 315 1980 630 1080
10 & 100 700 2800 350 2200 700 1200
above
On
year
Off year 100 500 2000 250 1560 400 650
 Method of fertilizer application
• NPK fertilizer should be broadcasted on the soil surface
under the spread of tree and slightly mixed with soil
• Fertilizer should be applied 30cm away from the trunk in
old trees and should not be applied in too wet or too dry
soils
• In high rainfall areas with steep slope where the size of
basins is small, band application of N fertilizers should
be preferred.
• In rich soil fertilizer doses may be regulated on the
basis of leaf and soil analysis report
• In orchards with well established cycle of 1 off year and
1 on year fertilizer doses should be reduced by 50%
during off years
• Apply FYM during December – January along with P
and K
 Method of fertilizer application
• Apply half dose of nitrogen 2-3 weeks before flowering and
remaining second half dose one month after Ist application.
• For areas experiencing continuous drought during early summer,
second dose of N should be avoided. Apply N in a single dose
along with P and K. In case full dose of N is not applied then
second dose of N can also be given 1-2 foliar sprays of urea @ of
0.5% (500 g/100 L water) after fruit set.
• Since the response of P application is poor, therefore, its excessive
application should be avoided. It would be better if P is applied
after every 2 years or alternate years.
• Give 2 sprays of calcium chloride @ 0.5 %, 45 and 30 days before
harvesting to improve storability of fruits.
• In heavy bearing orchard 1% urea should be sprayed immediately
after harvest along with Blitox / Copper oxychloride (0.3%) @
300g/100L water.
• Pre-leaf fall application of 5% urea (5 kg/100L water) should be
given.
 Foliar application of nutrients
Element Chemical Concentration Frequency Time
(%)

Zinc Zinc sulphate 0.5 1-2 spays at 15 May – June

days interval

Boron Boric acid 0.1 -do- June

Manganese Manganese 0.4 -do- June

sulphate

Calcium Calcium chloride 0.5 2 sprays at 15 days June – July

interval

Copper Copper sulphate 0.3 1-2 sprays at 15 June – July

days interval
 Fruit Thinning

• In apples, heavy bearing not only

results in small-sized poor quality fruits
but also sets in alternate bearing cycle.
• The judicious thinning suitably used
at the proper stage of fruit development
can regulate cropping and improve fruit
size and quality.
• Application of NAA (10 ppm), 7-15
days after petal fall is effective for
optimal fruit thinning.
 Fruit drop

• Most of the commercial varieties of apple

have been noticed to have the following three
waves of fruit drop:
• Early drop
• June drop, and
• Pre-harvest drop.
Control
• The application of 10 ppm NAA before the
expected fruit drop or 20-25 days before
harvest can check the fruit drop effectively
 Improvement Of Surface Colour
And Enhancement Of Maturity

• Application of ethrel @ 1000 ppm(a.i.) or 2.5-3.0 ml per

liter of water improves the colour in mid hills and
enhances maturity in high hills.
• Spray of freshly prepared solution should be done
about a week before the desired harvest time.
• The application of ethrel should be done only at the
stage when maximum fruit size has been attained and
about 30% red colouration has developed.
• NAA @ 10 ppm should be added to ethrel to arrest the
excessive fruit drop caused by ethrel.
• Since the ethrel impairs the storage life of fruits, the
growers should avoid cold storage of treated fruits.
 Harvesting

• The stage of maturity at which apples

should be picked depends upon the
intended use.
• For cooking, apples may be usable
before they mature, although the flavour
and texture is inferior to that which
develops later with proper maturation
and ripening.
 Maturity Indices
•For market purposes, the maturity indices of some important
commercial apple cultivars grown in the high hill regions (1800-2000 m
above msl) of the State based on firmness ratings as related to DFFB
(days from full bloom) and TSS (Total Soluble Solids) are:

Cultivar DFFB (Days) Firmness (kg) . TSS (%)

Tydeman's Worcester 90 4 7.8 0.15 12.0-13.0
Starkrimson Delicious 103 3 8.2 0.20 12.5-13.5
Lord Lambourne 103 3 8.2 0.20 11.0-12.5
Roval Delicious 120 5 8.2 0.40 13.0-15.0
Red Gold 122 3 8.3 0.20 12.0-13.5
Richared 128 3 8.6 0.25 12.0-13.0
Red Delicious 134 5 8.4 0.40 11.0-14.0
McIntosh 135 4 6.8 0.25 11.5-13.5
Golden Delicious 148 5 8.4 0.40 12.0-14.5
Granny Smith 180 5 8.7 0.30 11.5-13.0
 Yield

• Although average productivity of apple in

H.P. has been shown as 9.4 t/ha, some well
managed orchards of Delicious apple in
Kotgarh area yield about 50 t/ha.
• Similarly, yield record of 35 t/ha has been
achieved in 12 year old plantations of
colored mutant apple cultivars on MM 106
rootstocks under high density planting
system (2222 plants/ha) in a research station
in Shimla hills of H.P.
 Grading
• Grading should be based on
characters like size, weight, shape,
colour, maturity, etc.. size grading is
essential for uniformity and packing in
standard cartons or boxes.
• There are 7 size grades of apple
 Size Grades of Apple
Grade Equatorial Box size (cm) Size of wrapping No. of layers
fruit inner paper (cm)
Dia.(+2.5) dimensions
L B H

Super large 85 45.7x30.5x27.9 27.9x27.9 3

Extra large 80 45.7x30.5x25.4 26.7x26.7 3

Large 75 45.7x30.5x30.5 25.4x25.4x24.1x2 4

4.1

Medium 70 45.7x30.5x27.9 24.1x24.1 4

Small 65 45.7x30.5x25.4 22.8x22.8 4

Extra small 60 45.7x30.5x25.4 21.5x21.5 5

Pittoo 55 45.7x30.5x25.4 Not wrapped loose

 Packing
1. Wooden Boxes:
• Each wooden box is lined inside with old
newspaper sheets keeping the margins for over
hanging the flaps.
• Fruits are initially padded with wood wool/ pine
needles at the bottom.
• Paper wrapped fruits are arranged in each layer
and top layer is covered with paper by bringing
together the over hanging flaps.
• Then nail the top and the box is further
reinforced externally by clasping with a tight 14-
16 gauge steel wire.
 Packing
1. Wooden Boxes:
• Each wooden box is lined inside with old
newspaper sheets keeping the margins for over
hanging the flaps.
• Fruits are initially padded with wood wool/ pine
needles at the bottom.
• Paper wrapped fruits are arranged in each layer
and top layer is covered with paper by bringing
together the over hanging flaps.
• Then nail the top and the box is further
reinforced externally by clasping with a tight 14-
16 gauge steel wire.
 Packing
2.CFB telescopic tray pack cartons:
• Lighter in weight and consumes about 1/3
wood,
• Easy to handle,
• Ease in packing,
• Involves no extra labour in wrapping
material, nails, padding material etc.
• The fruit fetch better price because of lesser
(3.5%) bruising damage.
• But they are slightly more expensive than
wooden boxes and need protection from
direct rains.
• Unlike wooden boxes, tray pack CFB
cartons of single size are recommended.
Inner dimensions of CFB cartons with
trays are 50.4x30.3x28.2 cm (outer piece )
and 50.0x30.0x28.2 cm (inner piece).
• Plastic crates have been found useful as
field boxes, for cold storage and for
processing units.
 Methods of packing of apple in
CFB cartons
Grade No. of fruit No. of fruits No. of fruits No. of trays
layers per layer per box including
capper
Super large 4 18 72 5

Extra large 4 20 80 5

Large 5 20 100 6

Medium 5 25 125 6

Small 5 30 150 6

Extra small 5 35 175 6

Pittoo Loose Loose

- -
 Storage

• Apple fruit can be stored for 4-8

months at a temperature of –1.1°C with
relative humidity of 85-90%.
Physiological Disorders
 Bitter Pit

• Bitter pit reduces

the fresh market
quality of fruit.
• Recognized as an
abiotic disorder
found in all areas of
the world where
apples are grown.
• influenced by
climate and orchard
cultural practices.
 Bitter Pit- Symptoms

• Symptoms occasionally appear on the tree

before harvest, but symptoms most often appear
after harvest, during the first 4 to 8 weeks after
harvest.
• Small brown lesions of 2-10 mm in diameter
(depending on the cultivar) develop in the flesh of the
fruit. The tissue below the skin becomes dark and
corky.
• At harvest or after a period of cold storage, the
skin develops depressed spots on the surface. These
most often start to appear as water soaked spots on
the skin near the calyx. These spots generally turn
darker and become more sunken than the
surrounding skin and are fully developed after one to
two months in storage.
• Fruit located on vigorous, leafy, upright growing
branches have a greater potential to develop bitter pit
than does fruit that develops from spurs or on
horizontal wood near the tree's main frame.
• Young trees that are just coming into bearing are the
most susceptible.
• Immature fruit are more susceptible to bitter pit than
fruit harvested at the proper harvest maturity.
• Older trees, which are less vigorous and produce larger
crop loads, reduce their susceptibility to bitter pit
except in the very sensitive cultivars.
• Bitter pit is usually associated with low calcium
concentrations in the fruit flesh, but it is actually caused
by an imbalance of calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Thus, fruit with adequate amounts of calcium may
develop bitter pit if the levels of potassium and/or
magnesium are too high.
 Control

• Cultural practices that reduce the incidence of bitter pit are

annual bearing, moderate tree vigor, smaller fruit size, calcium
sprays, summer pruning and harvesting mature fruit.
• Avoid nitrogen and magnesium summer sprays, fertilizer
treatments that result in lowering the soil pH or induce excess
vigor, and fluctuating soil moisture.
• Early thinning and over thinning can increase bitter pit.
• Do not over dormant prune, which would result in a light
crop and large fruit.
• Sprays of calcium chloride(CaCl2), calcium
nitrate{Ca(NO3)2} and/or a post harvest dip in a calcium
solution are recommended