INTERGENERIC GRAFTING OF APPLE CULTIVARS IN THE 'JAPONÊS' QUINCE TREE

Abstract

Researches developed by the Agronomic Institute (IAC) and EPAMIG, in Brazil, determinated the 'Japones' quince (Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne) as a rootstock for quince plants, in reason of its high seeds number per fruits (above of 180), high germination and emergence, and high grafting ability. New researches have been carried out, in an attempt to make the use of 'Japanese' quince possible for other pomoideae plants, as the loquat and the pear tree, concerning the nanism promoted by this intergeneric graft, that culminate in the plant size reduction and cultural management facilities. So that, the present experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate the 'Japanese' quince as a rootstock for apple trees. The nursery trees used had 90 centimeters length and a diameter of eight millimeters (in the graft point), they where produced in plastic bags with a capacity of 3 L of substrate. In the first experiment the apple trees 'Anna', 'Imperial', 'Centenaria', 'Einshemer' and 'Michal' were used, and they were grafted by the cleft method in the hibernal period (July). In the second experiment the apple trees used were 'Eva', 'Ohio', 'Soberana', 'Rainha' and 'Dulcina' and they were grafted by bud method, in the vegetation phase (summer - January). After 60 days of the grafting, the bud-sprouting percentage was evaluated, and the length and graft average diameter were evaluated after 90 and 150 days of the plants' development. The cleft graft provided better results, with sprouting indices higher than 86%. The best results using the cleft grafting method were obtained with 'Einshemer' and 'Michal' apple trees, and with 'Eva' and 'Soberana' apple trees grafted by the bud method.