THE EVALUATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF GROWTH VIGOR OF THE PLUM CULTIVARS GRAFTED ON VARIOUS ROOTSTOCKS

The research activity carried out over a 30 years period by SCDP Valcea on the behavior of plum cultivars grafted on various rootstocks emphasized and allowed an evaluation of scion-rootstock relation and especially the modifications produced over the growth vigor of plants. 20 rootstocks were used for this research (7 of P. cerasifera, 3 of P. domestica, 8 of P. insititia and 2 interspecific hybrids). Seven of the rootstocks were vegetatively propagated.
All the 15 cultivars used are P. domestica type.
The growth vigor of the scion–rootstocks biosystem is one of the cultivars’ characteristics affected by the rootstock influence.
This phenomenon has a special importance for choosing and using of the most adequate culture systems of the European plum.
The rootstocks used have different growth vigor and specific when are grown on own roots.
This vigor proved determinant for the scion–rootstock system.
The evaluation of the growth vigor of the grafted cultivars on various rootstocks allowed a classification of the rootstocks into five classes depending on the growth vigor.
Inside each class, a scale from 1 to 3 was set up.
Rootstocks were grouped as dwarf (none of the rootstocks), semi–dwarf (P. besseyi x americana, ‘Saint Julien A’, ‘Pixy’, ‘Oteşani 8’, ‘Voineşti B’), medium (‘Gogoşele galbene’, ‘Molive’, ‘Oteşani 11’, ‘Roşior văratic’), vigorous (‘Myrobalan galben’, ‘Gogoşele negre’), very vigorous (‘Marianna GF 8-1’, and all the P. cerasifera rootstocks). The grouping of the rootstock into vigor classes allows a new vision on the European plum culture.

VII International Symposium on Plum and Prune Genetics, Breeding and Pomology

I. Botu, G. Achim, M. Botu, I. Godeanu, A. Baciu

plum, rootstocks, vigor

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.577.51