VIII Field Day on Rootstocks from CG Series & X Giro Técnico – the eighth edition of this annual event – convened 16th to 18th January 2024 in Lages, São Joaquim and Vacaria in southern Brazil.
The event was organised by Prof Leo Rufato from the State University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, in collaboration with consultant Gianfranco Perazzolo and Agromillora. Timed strategically ahead of Brazil’s apple harvest commencement, the gathering attracted a diverse assembly of approximately 300 attendees from eight nations.
Field day in São Joaquim, Santa Catarina
São Joaquim is the largest apple producing municipality in Brazil, with annual production of approximately 400 thousand tons cultivated across 14 thousand hectares, representing approximately 70 per cent of São Joaquim’s economic activity.
In the São Joaquim region, apple production stands out with over 80 per cent of producers cultivating less than 5 hectares, while approximately 15 per cent manage between 5 and 10 hectares. Consequently, small-scale producers account for around 90 per cent of the region’s total apple production, highlighting the significant contribution of smaller farms to the industry.
Given the prevailing soil conditions characterised – by shallowness and stoniness in the São Joaquim region – the adoption of advanced technologies like dwarf rootstocks, high planting densities, and more efficient cultivation systems progresses at a slower pace compared to other regions in Brazil.
Nevertheless, a subset of forward-thinking producers has begun investing in these modern techniques, particularly in the implementation of narrower row spacing (ranging from 2.5 to 3 m), and adopting a two-dimensional canopy management approach. In instances involving dwarf rootstocks such as M.9 and G.213, a plant spacing of 1 m between trees has been employed, whereas rootstocks with medium vigour like G.210 and G.814 have necessitated a wider 2 m tree spacing. Additionally, observations were made regarding the behavior of Gala and Fuji apple trees on different Geneva rootstocks and under different types of anti-hail net.
Symposium in Lages, Santa Catarina
The Symposium comprised six presentations and a closing round table. Stefano Musacchi from Washington State University discussed innovation in training systems and rootstocks for apple orchards; Andrey Hofer of Fruturo, Brazil, spoke on managing training systems in Brazilian conditions; and Joaquim Carbó from the Spanish Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) presented on the varietal situation in apples, the experience with Géneva® rootstocks and the training systems in Catalonia.
Both also from Spain, Joan Moreno of Tecnofruit discussed new platform technology for autonomous harvesting, and Ignasi Iglesias of Agromillora described trends in patterns and training systems for efficient and sustainable apple production. Finally, Clemens Hafner of SK Tyrol Consortium in Italy gave a talk on new apple varieties and trends in Europe.
The speakers emphasised the importance of reflecting on the orchard model for the future, addressing challenges such as rising production costs and labour shortages. Moreover, they underscored that consumers demand exceptionally high fruit quality. Consequently, it is important to strategically plan new orchards, implementing highly productive systems that optimise packout rates and minimise labour-related expenses; and to be ready for technologies that are about to become commercial in the coming years, such as robotic harvesting.
Field day in Vacaria, Rio Grande do Sol
Vacaria thrives as a leading apple producer in Rio Grande do Sul, standing as the second-largest municipality for apple production in Brazil. Spanning approximately 7 thousand hectares, and characterised by large companies producing 300 thousand tons of apples annually, the area plays a pivotal role in regional and national fruit cultivation.
The last day of the international event was marked by intense rain, but our visit to the Vacaria orchards went ahead nevertheless. Commercial and experimental areas of Gala and Fuji apple trees grafted on different rootstocks from the Geneva series were visited, such as G.11, G.41, G.202, G.210, G.213, G. 214, G.222, G.814, G.890, G.935, G.969, and G.4004, in addition to the conventional M9. The majority of orchards were in the Tall Spindle system, with some being planted with 3 m between rows, different from the 4 m traditionally used.
The highlight of the field trip was seeing the different forms of orchards in two dimensions (2D). Here there was a distance of 3 and 2.7 m between rows, and of 1.2 or 1.4 m between trees, depending on the cultivar and/or rootstock.
Positive directions
In general, the majority of new orchards in Brazil are being established in replanting sites, where rootstocks from the Geneva series – with vigour similar to M9 – are being used. The traditional training system is the Tall Spindle, or variations of central leaders, where the tree has a dominant trunk with lateral branches that are renewed periodically, and planting spacing of around 4 m between rows and 1 m between trees.
Since 2017, the planting of new orchards has intensified in different training systems, such as orchards with Bi-axis trees (trained in 2D or not), and 2D orchards trained by multileader trees (made with trees planted inclined or by Bi-axis trees), or even trained in the shape of a Palmetta; and also orchards trained in V-trellis, a system widely used in Washington, USA.
During the Brazilian event, participants had in-depth discussions focussed on enhancing productivity, refining quality standards, and implementing cost-effective measures. The aim was solving immediate problems, but discussions also emphasised anticipating future issues, particularly in terms of labour optimisation, operational mechanisation, and establishing orchards compatible with robotic and other advanced technologies, leveraging 2D orchard systems.
The event’s synergy shed light on cutting-edge techniques, and set a course for the future of orchard management worldwide. I came away from the event in Brazil happy to know that the actions being taken by Teagasc’s apple applied research program are heading in the same direction as those countries already consolidated in apple production.
Alberto Ramos Luz is a fruit research officer in the Horticulture Development Department in Teagasc, Oak Park, Co Carlow. He can be contacted at alberto.ramosluz@teagasc.ie.
