The objective of this study was to assess the effects of integrated and organic management systems on apples nutrition, incidence of pests, yield and fruit quality of 'Catarina' apple trees. The study was carried out in São Joaquim-SC, Brazil, in 2008/09 and 2009/10. Apple trees were grafted on Marubakaido rootstock (with EM-9 interstem), with slender spindle training. Soil attributes were adequate to the apple trees development and yield in both management systems. The organic management system increased the contents of Cu in the leaves and Ca and Cu in the fruit (skin and flesh tissues), increased the percentage of blush area in the fruit skin, and the incidence of fruits with sunburn and fruit fly damage. Fruits from the organic orchard had higher starch-iodine index and soluble solids content than those from the integrated orchard. In the organic orchard, the trees had lower mean leaf area, while fruits had lower K/Ca, Mg/Ca, N/Ca and (K+Mg)/Ca ratios in the skin, and Mg/Ca in the flesh, lower incidence of russeting, lower number of seeds and lower titratable acidity, compared to the integrated orchard. The two orchards did not show differences for the other attributes assessed. Organic apple production system is viable, since efficient technologies are adopted to prevent the attack of fruit fly.
Malus domestica; plant nutrition; apples mineral composition; copper in organic apples; bitter pit; fruit fly
