Estimating the genetic value of F1 apple progenies for irregular bearing during first years of production

Flowering regularity in apple trees during the beginning of their mature phase was assessed using new descriptors based on annual yields. These descriptors were approximated using subsamples of annual shoot sequences at axis scale to allow genotype evaluation at reasonable sampling costs. The approximation provided a good discrimination between regular and alternate bearing genotypes. QTLs were detected for some descriptors. (Résumé d'auteur