ISHS Acta Horticulturae 75: Symposium on Clonal Variation in Apple and Pear
VIRUS INDUCED CHANGES IN THE GROWTH OF POME FRUIT TREES |
| Authors: | A.I. Campbell, T.R. Sparks |
| Abstract:
The effect of several virus and microplasma-like infections on the growth, cropping and general behaviour of healthy apple and pear cultivars on several rootstocks was examined in four experiments over a number of years. Pome fruit cultivars and rootstocks differed greatly in their sensitivity to the viruses; pears were usually less tolerant to infection than apples and no virus spread occurred in any of the experiments. Many characteristics of the trees were changed by the viruses; most were reduced in vigour and trees were less uniform. Some infections rendered the crop unsaleable or markedly reduced crop weight and fruit size. In a few cultivars some infections increased fruit colour and improved the crop to trunk girth ratio. | |
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