INFLUENCE OF P14 ROOTSTOCK PROPAGATED IN VITRO AND IN STOOLBEDS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELDS OF THREE APPLE TREE CULTIVARS

The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the field performance of ‘Jonagored’, ‘Gala Must’ and ‘Elstar ‘apple trees grafted on the new Polish rootstock P14 which were propagated in three different ways: traditionally in stoolbeds, in stoolbeds established with in vitro propagated plants, or directly by micropropagation.
During the first winter after planting (1998/1999), the stems of all maidens were seriously damaged by frost.
The maidens were headed back to a stub and new maidens were formed.
The size of the trees of the three cultivars grafted on rootstocks propagated in different ways was found to be similar during the 5 years of the experiment.
Only the trees of ‘Elstar’ grown on rootstocks obtained from stoolbeds with in vitro propagated plants were significantly larger in size.
All the trees of the three cultivars produced a fruit crop in the second year after planting.
During the 4 years of fruiting, the cumulative yields of the three cultivars on in vitro propagated rootstocks were similar to those of the trees grown on the traditionally propagated rootstocks.
The size and colour of the fruits of the three cultivars were acceptable and similar, regardless of the rootstock propagation method.

VIII International Symposium on Canopy, Rootstocks and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems

A. Czynczyk, P. Bielicki, D. Chlebowska

apple, rootstock, stoolbeds, propagated in vitro, cropping efficiency coefficient

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.732.10