This is thanks to Worcestershire-based grower Frank P Matthews, which found that the rootstock's main advantage over others is its strong resistance to Phytophthora.

Nick Dunn, who runs Frank P Matthews, explained that the performance of M116 is similar to that of MM106 — the main difference between the two being M116's resistance to crown and collar rots.

He believes that this advantage could benefit cider-apple growers and Northern Ireland's Bramley growers, whose trees have to withstand wet conditions.

"Cider growers are desperate, because they lose up to five per cent of their trees a year due to Phytophthora," said Dunn. "Every year we're asked for thousands of replacement cider-apple trees."

Arguably M116's main downside is that it is very difficult to propagate by normal means, such as by rooting hardwood cuttings - which, in any case, is very expensive. Dunn uses tissue culture, which is also expensive but has the advantage of being much more reliable.

This operation is done by a contractor, which provides plug plants that Frank P Matthews grows on for a year before budding them. This year, around 10,000 will be budded, probably mostly with cider varieties for gapping up.

M116 is being trialled by the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM) on three West Country sites. The varieties involved are Katy, as the control, Dabinet and three new ones: Angela, Lizzy and Tina. They are on M116, or M116 with a M9 interstock or Golden Delicious interstem to help control growth. The trees are spaced at 4.6m x 1.5m and supported by a wire trellis.

"MM116 is supposed to be more resistant to Phytophthora and replant disease," said NACM orcharding adviser Liz Copas, who is running the trial. "Phytophthora can be a killer. If you get a wet winter, you can expect a lot of infection in trees that are just coming into good cropping."