ORCHARD PERFORMANCE OF SOME NEW PLUM ROOTSTOCKS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

New clonal plum rootstocks were investigated in an experimental orchard established at RBIP Holovousy in spring 1996. Rootstocks ‘GF 655/2’ (standard), ‘Pixy’, ‘Fereley’ and ‘Ishtara’ were assessed using cultivars ‘Stanley’, ‘Čačanská lepotica’ and ‘Valjevka’. Trees planted at spacings of 6 x 2.6 m were trained as spindles.
The experiment was arranged in a randomised block design using three replications, with two trees per plot.
Soil management and plant protection was according to Czech standard practices.
The following characteristics were recorded: trunk cross-sectional area, yield, fruit weight and suckering.
Trees of all cultivars on ‘Pixy’ were the least vigorous.
Trees of ‘Stanley’ grafted on ‘Fereley’ grew weaker than on ‘GF 655/2’ whereas those on ‘Ishtara’ and ‘GF 655/2’ had similar size.
With ‘Čačanská lepotica’ and ‘Valjevka’, no significant differences were noticed in the vigour of trees grafted on ‘Fereley’, ‘Ishtara’ and ‘GF 655/2’. The highest accumulated yields (1999-2003) of ‘Stanley’ and ‘Čačanská lepotica’ were observed on ‘Fereley’, whereas ‘Valjevka’ was the most productive on ‘Ishtara’. All these combinations (?) also had the highest yield efficiency.
The lowest figures for total yield and yield efficiency were observed with all three cultivars on ‘Pixy’. Fruits from trees on ‘Pixy’ were smaller in comparison to those from trees grafted on other rootstocks.
Trees on the rootstock ‘GF 655/2’ produced the highest number of suckers.
Many fewer suckers were produced on ‘Fereley’. On the other hand, practically no suckering was observed on ‘Pixy’ and ‘Ishtara’.

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

J. Kosina

cultivars, fruit growing, suckering, tree vigour, yield, yield efficiency

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.734.58