ISHS Acta Horticulturae 658: I International Symposium on Rootstocks for Deciduous Fruit Tree Species
THE EFFECT OF EUROPEAN PEAR (PYRUS COMMUNIS L.) AND QUINCE (CYDONIA OBLONGA L.) SEEDLING ROOTSTOCKS ON GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE OF SOME ASIAN PEAR (PYRUS SEROTINA REHD.) CULTIVARS |
| Author: | K. Arzani |
| Keywords: | Asian pear, Pyrus serotina Rehd., European pear, Pyrus communis L., quince, Cydonia oblonga L., rootstock |
| Abstract:
In order to evaluate some Asian (Japanese) pear cultivars (Pyrus serotina Rehd.) under Iranian climatic conditions, a national research project was started in 1997 at the Department of Horticultural Science, Tarbiat Modarres University (TMU), Tehran, Iran. Nine Asian pear cultivars named 'KS'6, 'KS'7, 'KS'8, 'KS'9, 'KS'10, 'KS'11, 'KS'12, 'KS'13 and 'KS'14 were introduced to Iran from Belgium. The introduced budwoods were budded onto European pear (Pyrus communis L.) and quince (Cydonia oblonga L.) seedling rootstocks in August 1998. Growth characteristics and performance of the budded cultivars on the seedling rootstocks were measured during 1999 and up to the 2002 growing seasons. Results indicated that all Asian pear cultivars showed a good performance on European pear seedling rootstocks although their growth was affected by genotypes. In general, budded trees on quince seedling rootstocks failed to grow and showed an incompatibility type response. Among the Asian pear cultivars budded onto European pear, the rootstocks 'KS'6 and 'KS'10 showed better early growth performance and survival than the others tested. In the first fruit bearing season of 2001, 'KS'8 showed the lowest fruit number per tree, but 'KS'7 produced the highest fruit number. In addition, 'KS'9 produced no fruit in the 2001 growing season. In the second season, 2002, 'KS'7 produced the highest and 'KS'9 the lowest fruit numbers. Also, panel test results indicated a good fruit taste of 'KS'6, 'KS'7, 'KS'10, 'KS'11 and 'KS'14 but 'KS'9 showed fruit skin and internal disorders on the tree before fruit harvest. Research is continuing on the budded cultivars to study rootstock effects including their adaptation to the soil and climatic conditions of the country, in order to improve the utilization of resources, such as water and fertilizer. | |
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