Abstract: ‘Bramley Seedlings’apple saplings grafted on three different rootstocks were planted in three different soils to study the effects of soil conditions on the growth and physiological characters of the saplings.The results showed that the shoot length, leaf area, leaf thickness, root activity and net photosynthetic rate reached their maximum values in clay loam with more gravels, with minimum ones in the soil of clay loam. The saplings with different rootstocks appeared differently in growth and physiological characters under the three soil conditions. Conclusions could be drawn from the indexes quoted above and analysis result of subordinate function that‘Bramley Seedlings’had a strong adaptability to the soil conditions and grew better in the clay loam with more gravels. The saplings with the rootstocks of Mulus robusta and M. prunifolia var. ringo are more appropriate to grow in the clay loam with more gravels and that with the rootstock of M. Prunifolia grew preferably in the soil of sandy loam.

Key words: ‘Bramley Seedlings’apple, rootstock, soil conditions, adaptability