Influence of Rootstocks Compared to Own-Rooted Pear Trees on Vegetative and Generative Characteristics Under Organic Production Conditions in Eastern Austria

• Published in: Erwerbsobstbau Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Spornberger, Andreas, Schüller, Elisabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2016
• Subjects: apples; chlorosis; cultivars; fruit quality; fruit yield; fruiting; fruits; in vitro culture; intercropping; organic production; pears; planting; rootstocks; seedlings; small fruits; soil; spring; trees; Austria
• ISSN: 0014-0309; 1439-0302
• DOI: 10.1007/s10341-015-0263-5

In spring 2006, in the research center of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, the pear cultivars ‘Bosc’s’, ‘Williams’ Christ’ and ‘Uta’ were planted on the rootstocks Kirchensaller Mostbirne (Seedling), Pyrodwarf, Farold 69, Quince Adams (with intercropping ‘Conference’) and own-rooted from in vitro culture, trained as spindles and tested for eight years under organic production rules. The own-rooted ‘Williams’- and ‘Bosc’s’-trees had many tree losses in the first year, they grew medium and started with fruiting later than the grafted trees. The trees on rootstock Quince Adams were growing very weakly in the high lime containing soil at the site, with the consequence of chlorosis, tree losses and small fruits, but also a higher brix-, vitamin C- and apple acid-content in the fruits. ‘Bosc’s’ showed low yields on all rootstocks in the observing period. ‘Williams’ on Farold 69 and Seedling had good yield and fruit quality, while the weakly growing cultivar ‘Uta’ showed low tree losses and high yields on Seedling. Pyrodwarf had very few tree losses and was similar in growth and yield compared to Farold 69 and Seedling, however the fruits of ‘Williams’ and ‘Bosc’s’ were smaller.