Effect of varieties on seed germination, growth of seedlings and budded plants of apple, Malus x domestica Borkh under protected conditions

An experiment to assess the effect of seeds of different varieties on apple seed germination, growth and vigour of seedlings and budded plants was conducted at the experimental field of Department of Fruit Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP during 2013 and 2014. The seeds of crab apple and seven commercial varieties like Gold Spur, Granny Smith, Red Gold, Royal Delicious, Spartan, Winter Banana and Golden Delicious were used to raise the seedling rootstocks. The highest (92%) seed germination was recorded in crab apple whereas the lowest (84.10%) was observed in Golden Delicious. The crab apple seedling rootstocks attained maximum height (75.17 cm) and diameter (5.47 mm) whereas the minimum height (62.47 cm) and diameter (5.00 mm) were recorded in Winter Banana seedling rootstocks. The highest internodal length (1.75 cm) was recorded in seedling of variety Red Gold and the lowest (1.11 cm) in variety Golden Delicious. The seedlings of crab apple attained maximum leaf area (26.89 cm²) and number of leaves per seedling (26.67) however the minimum leaf area (19.82 cm²) and number of leaves per seedling (15.33) in seedlings of Winter Banana. The highest total root length (6.50 m) was observed in the seedlings of crab apple and the lowest (4.50 m) of Winter Banana. The maximum (32.00 g) biomass was recorded in seedlings raised of crab apple whereas the minimum (20.00 g) in Winter Banana. The highest buddable seedlings (83%), height of budded plants (92.67 cm), stock girth (7.64 mm) and scion girth (6.53 mm) were observed in crab apple. However the lowest number of buddable seedlings (74%), plant height (80.67 cm), stock girth (6.10 mm) and scion girth (5.11 mm) were attained by Winter Banana seedlings.