Do the Rootstocks Determine Tree Growth, Productivity and Fruit Quality of Pears, which Grow on Typical Heavy and Acidic Soil?

Abstract

During first 5 years after planting, we investigated the impact of quinces MA and BA.29 rootstocks on tree growth, precocity, yield, fruit quality and leaf nutrients content 60 days after full bloom (DAFB) of ‘Starking Delicious’, ‘Abbe Fetel’, and ‘Conference’ pear cultivars which are grown in the Cacak region on heavy and acidic soil. Results showed that rootstocks significantly influenced a small number of features which were evaluated. MA promoted better values of fruit weight and fruit length, whereas BA.29 increased leaf width and leaf area. Impact of rootstocks on tree growth and yield attributes were not found. A stronger effect than that of rootstock on all characteristics which were evaluated had the cultivar per se (genotype). Among cultivars, ‘Conference’ showed the highest values of leaf dimensions, leaf area and ripening index (RI); ‘Abbe Fetel’ had the highest flower numbers per umbels, cumulative yield, yield efficiency, all fruit physical characteristics, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total sugar content and vitamin C content, while ‘Starking Delicious’ had the highest tree vigor, yield per tree and unit area.