Abstract
European-pear cultivars are mainly propagated by means of Common Pear (Pyrus communis) or quince (Cydonia oblonga) rootstocks. The former are compatible with all scion cultivars, the latter only with a part of the pear-cultivar assortment. Common Pear rootstocks are considered more cold hardy and less susceptible to lime-induced iron chlorosis and quince rootstocks less vigorous, more precocious, better in fruit size, and less susceptible to pear decline. However, such generalisations are of little value, because within both species variations in the characteristics occur. The various rootstock qualities are discussed and it is shown that some progress has been made towards rectifying some of the short comings. It is stated that there is a shortage in suitable dwarfing rootstocks, hampering for pear the current world wide trend towards high-density plantings (HDP). For successful HDP with different cultivars under various growing conditions, rootstock vigour should range from that comparable to quince MA to that significantly less than quince MC. It is proposed to concentrate research to this vigour range and to do so in collaboration. Future efforts should encompass field trials and tests aimed at gaining early and quantitative information on sensitivities to certain environmental stresses and diseases and, in case of pear/quince combinations, on graft incompatibility.
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