EVALUATION OF THE OHXF SELECTIONS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO QUINCE ROOTSTOCKS FOR PEAR: AGRONOMICAL PERFORMANCE OF ‘CONFERENCE’ AND ‘DOYENNÉ DU COMICE’

We evaluated the possibility of using the Pyrus communis OHxF clonal rootstocks instead of seedling rootstocks in the calcareous soils of the Ebro basin in Spain, with two important cultivars, ‘Conference’ and ‘Doyenné du Comice’, in comparison to the quinces (Cydonia oblonga) Adams and BA 29. With ‘Conference’, the highest cumulative yields after eleven crops were obtained on OHxF 69, OHxF 40 and OHxF 87, and the lowest on Adams.
The vigor on seedlings was significantly higher than on any other rootstock.
The productivity was higher on quinces, intermediate on OHxF 69, OHxF 87 and OHxF 40, lower on OHxF 333 and OHxF 282, and the lowest on the seedlings.
The average fruit size was slightly larger on BA 29 and on seedling than on the other rootstocks. In ‘Doyenné du Comice’, the highest cumulative yields were on the quince rootstocks, both significantly higher than on all the OHxF clones, with OHxF 333 producing the lowest yield of the trial.
After eleven crops no differences were found in vigor.
Productivity was higher on the quince Adams, intermediate on BA 29, and lower on the OHxF clones without differences between them.
In reference to fruit size, only on OHxF 333 it was statistically smaller than on the other rootstocks.
The results of the trial indicate a possible interaction between cultivars and rootstocks, and from an economic point of view, the suitability of the OHxF selections as an alternative to quince rootstocks may depend not only on the soil characteristics but also on the scion cultivar.

IX International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems

J.M. Alonso, J. Gómez-Aparisi, J.M. Ansón, M.T. Espiau, M. Carrera

Pyrus communis, Cydonia oblonga, chlorotic conditions, vigor control

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.903.61