G.935

A Geneva semi-dwarfing rootstock from a 1976 Ottawa 3 x Robusta 5 cross, and among the most precocious semi-dwarfs available. It suits high-density supported cider plantings where early return matters, and its fireblight and crown rot resistance are a real advantage over M.26 and MM.106 in a wet climate. Two cautions dominate its use here: the latent-virus sensitivity makes it a poor match for uncertified scion wood — the likely route for obscure cider varieties like Cimetere or Amere de Berthcourt — and its lack of woolly apple aphid resistance means G.890 is the better choice where that pest is a concern. WSU's Mount Vernon trial grew Puget Spice on M.26 and G.935. Discrepancies: The important one is woolly apple aphid. Because the Geneva program is known for WAA-resistant stocks, general sources and casual summaries often imply all Geneva rootstocks share that trait; Cornell and Adams County Nursery both state explicitly that G.935 is susceptible to woolly apple aphid, unlike G.890. Recommended recording it as NOT resistant — this is the single most consequential correction in the rootstock set, and it should drive stock selection if WAA is present on site. Second conflict: size class. WSU calls G.935 dwarfing while Cornell and the release literature call it semi-dwarfing, and reports vary between slightly larger than M.26 and 12% smaller than M.26 EMLA in NC-140 trials. Recommended 45-55% of seedling, roughly M.26 class, following Cornell — the practical takeaway (needs support either way) is unaffected. Fireblight resistance, crown rot resistance, precocity and latent-virus sensitivity are agreed across all sources.

Disease: Highly resistant to fireblight and to Phytophthora crown rot (both confirmed by WSU and Cornell), and tolerant of replant disease. NOT resistant to woolly apple aphid — a common and costly misconception. Also sensitive to latent apple viruses, so it must be grafted only with certified virus-clean scion wood.