Varietal susceptibility (crown rot and collar rot)

Rootstocks

Rootstocks vary in their susceptibility to P. cactorum.

  • M.9 appears most resistant, but reports suggest regional differences in rootstock susceptibility.
  • M.2, M.7, M.26 and MM.111, which are very resistant under UK conditions are susceptible in parts of North America.
  • Rootstocks MM.104 and MM.106 and Merton 789 are considered in general to be very susceptible.
  • Rootstocks available from abroad also vary in susceptibility to Phytophthora.

Scion varieties

  • Collar rot is predominantly a disease of Cox and occasionally James Grieve in the UK, but in New Zealand and Europe has been recorded on other varieties including Laxton’s Superb, Ribston Pippin and Ellison’s Orange.
  • In the UK collar rot rarely occurs on trees less than 10 years old.
  • Cox on M.2, M.9 and M.26 are particularly prone to attack.