Influence of rootstocks on the properties of fruiting twigs in plum cultivars

Abstract

The paper presents the results of research on the influence of three clonal rootstocks (‘Pixy’, ‘Fereley’ and ‘St. Julien A’) and one seedling rootstock (Myrobalan as a control) on the properties of fruiting twigs of three table plums cultivars (‘Čačanska Rana’, ‘Čačanska Lepotica’ and ‘Čačanska Najbolja’) for a period of three years (2013-2015). Morphological properties of fruiting twigs (long and short): length, thickness, number of flower buds and vegetative buds were examined. The average length of long fruiting twigs was from 51.4 cm to 73.4 cm. The results of the study showed that clonal rootstocks ‘Pixy’ had a statistically significant influence on the lowest length and thickness of long fruiting twigs. The medium vigorous clonal rootstock ‘Fereley’ had a statistically significant influence on the formation of the highest number of the flower buds per twig. Myrobalan seedling rootstock had the highest number of the vegetative buds per twig. Cultivar ‘Čačanska Rana’ had lower number of the flower buds per twig in relation to ‘Čačanska Lepotica’ and ‘Čačanska Najbolja’ cultivars. The average length of short fruiting twigs was from 2.8 cm to 7.1 cm. Number of flower buds per short fruiting twig ranged from 2.3 to 4.8, while the number of vegetative buds ranged from 2.4 to 4.1. Myrobalan seedling rootstock had influence on the formation of lower number of flower buds per short fruiting twigs in relation to clonal rootstocks.