The aim of study was to evaluate how different apple cultivars affect root morphology and spatial distribution of rootstock. The experiment was conducted with three different cultivars; ‘Golden delicious’, ‘Gala’ and ‘Starking’ grafted on M9 dwarfing rootstock. Nine and fourteen years old, French vertical axe trained trees were included in the experiment. The trench profile method was chosen to study the morphology of root system and the counted root intersects were divided into three classes; fine roots (<2mm), medium-sized roots (2-5 mm), and coarse roots (>5 mm). To analyze the spatial distribution of root system, the respective cumulative number of fine roots at three successive distances from the base of tree trunk and the cumulative number of fine roots in three successive distances from soil surface were expressed as percentage versus the total fine roots. Significant effects of scion on the total number of fine roots, and as well, on their side and in depth distribution were found. The pattern of root distribution is changing over years, tending to shift the bulk of absorptive roots further from the tank and deeper into the soil. This tendency was more visible to high yielding and late maturity cultivars.

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Beside its typical and optimal area of cultivation in the central and northeast Albania, in the last decade, apple cultivation has been spread into the Western Plain, to benefit from the advantages of earliness and vicinity to the main markets. The scope of this research was to study the canopy architecture of five main cultivars grown in this region, 'M. Gala', 'Gold Delicious', 'Starking', 'Fuji' and 'Pink Lady' on M9 rootstock. The study was carried out from 2010-2011 in a 6-year old orchard, located at an altitude of 3 m, with 3.7 x 1.2 m distances in French axe system. The following measurements were made in 5 trees per cultivar: diameter of the rootstock, scion and two main branches at 1.5 m height, number of spurs, bourses and shoots, length of woody shoots and fruit set. Global radiation, temperature and humidity were recorded. The data shows a noticeable difference in rootstock/scion growth between the five cultivars tested. These differences are higher in the combination M9/'M. Gala' and 'M9/'Pink Lady', with an affinity index of 0.49 and 0.52, respectively (< 0.6). The same trend is observed also with the diameter of the main branch, with partial incompatibility, which also modifies the other elements of canopy architecture, vegetation and reproductive growth. Changes are observed in 'M. Gala', with a small diameter of the main branch (14.7 mm), but with a higher number of fruiting shoots (18 fruiting shoots) and fruit set (45.3 fruits/ twig). It is followed by 'Fuji' and 'Gold'. Although 'Starking' has a higher diameter (16.4 mm) of main branches, it forms more vegetation shoots and a small fruit set (20.8 fruits/ twig). There is a significant correlation between the branch diameter and the fruit set per twig. In conclusion, we can state that these cultivars show different behaviour towards M9 rootstock which has a significant effect on the elements of canopy architecture and fruit set.

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In the last decade, apple has been intensively cultivated in the western coast of Albania. The scope of this research was to study the influence of M9 rootstock on the reproductive behaviour of apple cultivars 'M.