Rootstocks affect pear (Pyrus communis) tree growth through extent of node neoformation and flowering with key differences to apple
Amy E. Watson A C , Alla N. Seleznyova A , Geegana A. Dayatilake B and D. Stuart Tustin BA The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Palmerston North Research Centre, Private Bag 11 030, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
B The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Hawke’s Bay Research Centre, Private Bag 1401, Havelock North, New Zealand.
C Corresponding author. Email: amy.watson@plantandfood.co.nz
Functional Plant Biology 39(6) 493-502 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP12031
Submitted: 27 January 2012 Accepted: 4 April 2012 Published: 16 May 2012
Abstract
Improved knowledge of rootstock effects on pear (Pyrus communis L.) tree development is required before early assessment of rootstock breeding populations can be improved. Two cultivars, ‘Doyenné du Comice’ and ‘Concorde’, were grafted on Pyrus calleryana Decne. (vigorous), Quince BA29 (semi-vigorous) and Quince C (semi-dwarfing) rootstocks. Growth of the compound trees was studied over 2 years after grafting and flowering was recorded in the spring of the third year. Using architectural analysis, annual shoot types common to all treatments and closely connected to the patterns of extension of preformed and neoformed metamers were identified and the differences among rootstock vigour treatments were quantified by proportions of these shoot types. Rootstock affected node neoformation, which was highest in the treatment with P. calleryana. The extent of sylleptic branching varied among the treatments, whereas the budbreak along the primary-axis in the second year of growth was unaffected, hence, the number of proleptic secondary axes was largely determined the primary-axis node number developed in year one. Spring flowering first occurred in the third year of tree growth and its intensity was influenced by rootstock. Quince C, the least vigorous rootstock, produced the highest number of floral buds. Flowering was delayed in young pear trees compared with apple, as shown in previous studies, so we conclude flowering does not play such a pivotal role in secondary axes development and early tree dwarfing by rootstock as has been observed in apple.
Additional keywords: annual shoot, cyclicity, dwarfing, flowering, neoformation, preformation.
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