Quince Rootstocks Affect Some Vegetative and Generative Traits

Abstract

ABSTRACT A study was carried out in order to select the most suitable vegetative rootstock for ‘Isfahan’ quince commercial cultivar at the Isfahan Agricultural Research Center, Iran. The effect of four quince rootstocks including BA29, A, B, and C, along with quince and hawthorn seedlings on some qualitative and quantitative traits of ‘Isfahan’ quince cultivar was investigated during 2013–2017. According to the results, the highest and lowest diameter of rootstock, grafting union, and scion were observed in the quince and hawthorn seedlings, respectively. The highest length of the annual branch and the height of the tree was observed in quince seedlings and BA29 rootstocks. Quince seedling had the lowest yield/trunk cross-sectional area (0.22 kg/cm2) and hawthorn (0.35 kg/cm2), QA (0.29 kg/cm2) and BA29 (0.29 kg/cm2) rootstocks had the highest amount of this trait. Characteristics of the fruit were affected by rootstock, so that the hawthorn, BA29, and QA rootstocks induced higher fruit weight, total soluble solid/total acidity, and fruit firmness to the scion. The most leaf iron and magnesium were found in the trees grafted on the hawthorn (69.33 and 71.83 mg/kg) and BA29 (75.57 and 61.07 mg/kg) rootstocks. Nitrogen of leaf in the trees grafted on the BA29 was higher than other rootstocks (2.22%). The highest leaf phosphorus (0.15%) and potassium (1.44%) were observed in the grafted trees on the hawthorn rootstock. According to the results, for the establishment of ‘Isfahan’ quince orchard, three rootstocks including the hawthorn (low growth), QA (medium growth), and BA29 (relatively vigorous) is recommended.