Articles
Developing a phenotyping protocol to describe almond tree architecture traits influenced by rootstock genotype in commercial cultivars
Article number
1406_5
Pages
35 – 42
Language
English
Abstract
The adaptation to edaphoclimatic and environmental conditions determines the cropping potential of almond (Prunus amygdalus (L.) Batsch, syn P. dulcis (Mill.)) cultivars.
New planting systems with smaller less vigorous trees present several potential benefits for increasing orchard profitability.
The rootstock genotype influences several aspects of scion development including tree vigor, which has a decisive impact on cropping success.
While several studies have examined rootstock effects on tree vigor, much is still unknown about how rootstocks influence specific aspects of tree architecture.
This study aims to identify descriptors of rootstock influence on tree architecture.
Six almond cultivars of commercial significance were grafted onto five hybrid rootstocks, resulting in 30 combinations that were measured after their second year of growth.
From 24 initial parameters, we selected seven as descriptors of rootstock influence on tree architecture.
These descriptors related to tree vigor, branching density and branching distribution.
We reported that the rootstock genotype affects apical dominance and branch production, though the effects were not consistent across the different scion/rootstock combinations evaluated.
A posterior analysis in the third year of growth also demonstrated that rootstock genotype may influence the type of shoot production.
Using a subset of three almond cultivars grafted onto the same five hybrid rootstocks, we observed that rootstock genotype specially affects sylleptic shoot formation.
This remarks that each scion/rootstock interaction is unique, and should be considered when establishing a new almond orchard.
New planting systems with smaller less vigorous trees present several potential benefits for increasing orchard profitability.
The rootstock genotype influences several aspects of scion development including tree vigor, which has a decisive impact on cropping success.
While several studies have examined rootstock effects on tree vigor, much is still unknown about how rootstocks influence specific aspects of tree architecture.
This study aims to identify descriptors of rootstock influence on tree architecture.
Six almond cultivars of commercial significance were grafted onto five hybrid rootstocks, resulting in 30 combinations that were measured after their second year of growth.
From 24 initial parameters, we selected seven as descriptors of rootstock influence on tree architecture.
These descriptors related to tree vigor, branching density and branching distribution.
We reported that the rootstock genotype affects apical dominance and branch production, though the effects were not consistent across the different scion/rootstock combinations evaluated.
A posterior analysis in the third year of growth also demonstrated that rootstock genotype may influence the type of shoot production.
Using a subset of three almond cultivars grafted onto the same five hybrid rootstocks, we observed that rootstock genotype specially affects sylleptic shoot formation.
This remarks that each scion/rootstock interaction is unique, and should be considered when establishing a new almond orchard.
Authors
Á. Montesinos, J. Grimplet, G. Thorp, M.J. Rubio-Cabetas
Keywords
almond × peach hybrid, candidate gene, drought, hypoxia, plant growth, vigour
Groups involved
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