APPLE ROOTSTOCKS
Malling 9 (& Subclones)

SIZE CLASS 3

M.9



Pedigree

Unknown, an English selection of a group of French genotypes known collectively as "Juane de Metz" in the late 1800s.

 

Precocity

Very precocious

Productivity

High, under the correct conditions

Scion Fruit Size

Typically large fruited
Scion Fruit Quality Generally good, high coloring

Anchorage

Poor, support required due to brittle roots and a high fruit:wood ratio.

Fire blight

Extremely susceptible

Crown & Root Rots

Considered resistant

Woolly Apple Aphid

Susceptible

Powdery Mildew

Moderately susceptible

Hardiness (Midwinter)

Questionable - may be less hardy where soil drainage is poor. Has remained productive in British Columbia and Norway following severe winters.
Bud Break  
Leaf Fall  

Suckering

Moderate to heavy

Burrknots

Light to heavy, depending on subclone used (T337 and Pajam-1 are worse) and propagation methods (burrknots increase with increased budding height).

Stoolbed Performance

Very good, but often strain specific - newer strains typically propagate in the stoolbed and nursery better than the original M.9 or M.9a.

Virus hypersensitivities

Tolerant

Experience

Extremely well tested - at least 1/3 of domestic apple production, and 95% of European apple production is based on M.9, subclones, and close relatives.

Sources

Almost all commercial sources produce M.9.

Strains

EMLA (British) and T337 (Dutch) are virus free subclones with improved propagation characteristics. M.9a has fewer latent viruses than the original M.9, but does not propagate as easily as newer clones. The original M.9 is typically heavily loaded with latent viruses. RN.29 (Nic 29) is a virus-free Belgian subclone that is slightly more vigorous than most others. Fleuren 56 is a virus-free Dutch subclone that is slightly less vigorous than most others.The Pajam series (Lancep, Cepiland) from France are possibly not true subclones of M.9, but are treated as if they are. Pajam-1 (Lancep) is similar to T337 (low end of M.9 vigor range), while Pajam-2 (Cepiland) is among the largest of the M.9 types.

Observations, suspicions, history

M.9 is often a good choice for use in high density plantings by experienced growers. M.9 requires a higher level of management than many larger types of rootstocks, but it has a well established history of high productivity and precocity. M.9 and all subclones and close relatives are particularly susceptible to fire blight, a problem exacerbated by heavy suckering. All growers should use extreme caution when planting M.9 with highly susceptible scion varieties such as Ginger Gold, Pink Lady, Gala, Fuji, and some other varieties that are presently popular. M.9 has a shallow root system that is relatively weak, and it is also more sensitive to water stress than many other rootstocks. Irrigation is always recommended for M.9 orchards.

 

 

Return to

Geneva Apple Rootstocks Page
US Apple Rootstock Cultivars Page

 


Last modified September 21, 1999.