NURSERY BEHAVIOUR OF PISTACHIO ROOTSTOCKS

Commercial pistachio nursery production needs to produce fast-growing rootstocks that allow early budding and transplantation.
At IRTA Mas Bové, a nursery trial was started in 1996 using seeds derived from 14 clones of different Pistacia species from various countries.
These seed source clones were planted, according to origin in small isolated groups to prevent hybridizations which occur frequently in this genus.
As seed sources, the following open pollinated rootstocks were used: four P. atlantica (one from Syria and three from USA), three P. integerrima (USA), four P. palaestina (one from Syria, one from USA and two from Greece), one P. terebinthus (Spain) and two P. vera (cultivars ‘Larnaka’ and ‘Mateur’). Several seed source clones were interspecific hybrids (P. palaestina from Greece and USA, and P. atlantica and P. integerrima both from USA). Significant and important differences in vigour (trunk diameter and height) between rootstocks at the end of the first growing season were observed.
In relation to trunk thickness, which is essential to allow budding, seedlings derived from P. integerrima (USA), P. atlantica (Syria) and, to a lesser degree, P. palaestina (Greece) were promising.
Seedlings derived from P. terebinthus showed reduced growth.
This trial demonstrates the great potential of pistachio rootstock seedling selection.

II International Symposium on Pistachios and Almonds

F.J. Vargas, M.A. Romero, J. Clavé

Pistacia spp. (P. atlantica, P. integerrima, P. palaestina, P. terebinthus and P. vera), seedlings, rootstocks, vigour, selection

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.470.32