Comparison of Four Pistachio Rootstocks in California

Abstract

Currently, the California pistachio industry relies on four rootstocks: two species and two interspecific hybrids—P. atlantica, P. integerrima, P. integerrima × P. atlantica, and P. atlantica × P. integerrima. The first three are open-pollinated, the last is the result of a closed pollination. The objective of these long-term trials is to compare rootstock behavior in the three major pistachio-producing regions of California. Three trials of 100 replications consisting of one of each of the four rootstocks were established in the three major growing regions of California in 1988. All the rootstocks in all three locations were budded with buds from the same female and male trees. Thus, all differences in performance are the result of rootstock or local climate. Results thus far demonstrate that rootstocks with P. atlantica as the maternal parent are more cold tolerant; more efficient in boron, zinc, and copper uptake; less vigorous; less precocious; and more susceptible to V. dahliae than rootstocks with P. integerrima as the maternal parent. The results also demonstrate that pistachios in California's southern San Joaquin Valley will bear 1 year ahead of pistachios in the central San Joaquin Valley or the northern Sacramento Valley. Trees on rootstocks with P. integerrima parentage also bear earlier than trees on P. atlantica and have higher yield efficiencies. All are colonized by vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizae.