ISHS Acta Horticulturae 596: VIII International Symposium on Pear
THE BEHAVIOUR OF 'OLD HOME' X 'FARMINGDALE' SELECTIONS AS INTERSTOCKS IN PEAR/QUINCE COMBINATIONS, IN RIO NEGRO VALLEY, ARGENTINA |
| Authors: | R.O. Rodríguez, H.R. Castro |
| Keywords: | rootstocks, incompatibility, Pyrus communis, 'Bartlett', 'Beurré d'Anjou', Argentina |
| Abstract:
Pyrus communis is the main pear rootstock in Argentina, on account of the lack of compatibility of quince with the main cultivars (Bartlett, Beurré d'Anjou and Packham's Triumph). In order to overcome this limitation, and permit high density orchards, since 1991 studies have been conducted on the quince MA rootstock, with ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Beurré d'Anjou’ scions and utilising interstocks of the selections ‘Old Home’ x ‘Farmingdale’ OHxF 51, 69 and 333. Pyrus communis seedling rootstocks have been used as controls. Results show that during the first five years there was reduced vegetative growth and increased precocity on the trees grafted on quince. No incompatibility problems were observed. But during the four following years, the trees with interstocks on quince showed an increasing and extreme reduction in their vegetative growth and a lower fruit production in comparison with trees on Pyrus communis. Other symptoms of incompatibility, such as reddish leaf colour and an earlier senescence of the foliage in autumn, and a black line in the joint between the pear stock and quince, were also observed. The use of several OHxF selections as interstocks is not therefore, suitable to overcome incompatibility problems between the pear cultivars Bartlett and Beurré d’Anjou and the quince rootstock MA in the climatic conditions of the Río Negro Valley, where pears are mainly produced in Argentina. It will be necessary to evaluate the future behaviour of other interstocks which have better graft compatibility with quince. | |
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