Articles
Research and application progress of apple dwarf rootstock breeding and nursery tree propagation technology in China
Article number
1401_11
Pages
75 – 82
Language
English
Abstract
The apple industry in China is now undergoing a transformation from a traditionally vigorous cultivation orchard system to a high-density dwarf cultivation orchard system.
They are mostly distributed in mountainous and hilly areas with poor soil.
Lacking rootstocks and nursery stocks with excellent ecological adaptability has become a key limiting factor for developing high-density dwarf cultivation.
The breeding of apple rootstocks in China began in the 1970s.
So far, several types of dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstock, such as SH series, Qingzhen series, and Zhongzhen series, have been bred by over 10 research units involving China Agricultural University, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences Pomology Institute, and more through utilization of local wild resources and hybridization of dwarf rootstock.
The dwarf rootstocks used in production are principally M26, T337, SH6, GM256, Qingzhen 1. They are usually used as intermediate stocks in application practices, accounting for more than 90%. Production of apple nursery stocks is mainly concentrated in Shaanxi, Shandong, and other provinces and regions, with a total capacity of about 200 million plants.
Among them, vigorous stocks, dwarf intermediate rootstocks, and dwarf self-rooted stocks take up 14, 55, and 31%, respectively.
In 2014, the large-scale commercial application of dwarf self-rooted stocks originated in Qianyang County, Shaanxi Province.
A technical system for propagating apple nursery trees with virus-free dwarf rootstock has been established after 10 years of research, which primarily applies virus detection and elimination, cutting nursery, layering bed, bench grafting, branching promotion technology, nursery tree storage techniques, and so on.
Layering and tissue culture are currently the major approaches to breeding dwarf rootstocks.
Besides, cutting and apomixis are also used occasionally.
Anyway, the apple nursery stock propagation system is shifting from traditional fragmented vigorous propagation to modern asexual propagation of dwarf stocks in China.
They are mostly distributed in mountainous and hilly areas with poor soil.
Lacking rootstocks and nursery stocks with excellent ecological adaptability has become a key limiting factor for developing high-density dwarf cultivation.
The breeding of apple rootstocks in China began in the 1970s.
So far, several types of dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstock, such as SH series, Qingzhen series, and Zhongzhen series, have been bred by over 10 research units involving China Agricultural University, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences Pomology Institute, and more through utilization of local wild resources and hybridization of dwarf rootstock.
The dwarf rootstocks used in production are principally M26, T337, SH6, GM256, Qingzhen 1. They are usually used as intermediate stocks in application practices, accounting for more than 90%. Production of apple nursery stocks is mainly concentrated in Shaanxi, Shandong, and other provinces and regions, with a total capacity of about 200 million plants.
Among them, vigorous stocks, dwarf intermediate rootstocks, and dwarf self-rooted stocks take up 14, 55, and 31%, respectively.
In 2014, the large-scale commercial application of dwarf self-rooted stocks originated in Qianyang County, Shaanxi Province.
A technical system for propagating apple nursery trees with virus-free dwarf rootstock has been established after 10 years of research, which primarily applies virus detection and elimination, cutting nursery, layering bed, bench grafting, branching promotion technology, nursery tree storage techniques, and so on.
Layering and tissue culture are currently the major approaches to breeding dwarf rootstocks.
Besides, cutting and apomixis are also used occasionally.
Anyway, the apple nursery stock propagation system is shifting from traditional fragmented vigorous propagation to modern asexual propagation of dwarf stocks in China.
Authors
Dong Zhang
Keywords
apple, dwarf rootstock breeding, nursery tree, propagation technology
Online Articles (40)