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PERFORMANCE OF MICROPROPAGATED AND BUDDED PEAR TREES: INTERACTION BETWEEN SCION AND DWARF-QUINCE CLONES
Three other cultivars, Doyenne du Comice, Conference and General Leclerc, were also budded on the same quince clones but not micropropagated.
In vitro cultured Bartlett trees grew only 10–15% more than those on M A but less than Doyenne du Comice on the same stock.
Cropping was slightly delayed as compared to M A (3rd instead of 2nd year), and from the 4th year yields were similar.
Fruit quality and shape and harvest date for the self-rooted trees were similar to those on M A, with only fruit size being smaller one year.
M C and Adams were equally more dwarfing (25–30%) than M A; M C reduce growth more than Adams in Comice (40% against 15%).
The three quinces induced almost the same early bearing.
In the loaded years, M A tended to promote better fruit quality and size in comparison to the dwarfing quinces, of which Adams was more reliable than M C but both increased yield efficiency and were potentially capable of increasing yield per ha under conditions of higher density planting.