SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF EMPIRE APPLE-TREES CHIP BUDDED ONTO MARK OR M.9 ROOTSTOCK

'Empire' apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) was budded onto Mark or M.9 ro otstock on 16 July, 9 Aug., 30 Aug., or 23 Sept. 1990 in Illinois and Washington to determine the effect of time of chip budding on tree sur vival, scion growth, and union overgrowth. Most of the trees (greater- than-or-equal-to 68%) propagated in July or August produced scion grow th by 5 May 1991. However, scion wilting occurred subsequently, result ing in substantial tree loss. By October 1991, scions that were budded on Mark rootstock on 30 Aug. 1990 generally had the greatest survival at both locations. In contrast, 'Empire'/M.9 trees chip budded in Ill inois on 23 Sept. tended to have the greatest scion survival and growt h and number of branches. In Washington, M.9 rootstocks budded on 16 J uly had greater scion survival than those budded on 30 Aug. or 23 Sept .