Important rootstocks of fruit crops
Important rootstocks used in major fruit crops
|
Fruit
Crop |
Rootstock |
Vigour
Class |
Approx.
Tree Size Reduction |
Special
Traits / Advantages |
|
Apple |
M9 |
Dwarf |
60–70% |
Ideal
for high-density planting, early bearing, high yield efficiency |
|
M26 |
Semi-dwarf |
40–50% |
Precocious,
good fruit size, moderate vigor |
|
|
M7 |
Semi-dwarf |
40–50% |
Good
anchorage, tolerant to wet soils |
|
|
MM106 |
Semi-vigorous |
25–35% |
Adaptable
to many soils, good productivity |
|
|
MM111 |
Vigorous |
10–20% |
Drought
tolerant, strong root system |
|
|
Pear |
Quince
A |
Dwarf |
50–60% |
Suitable
for high-density orchards, early fruiting |
|
Quince
C |
Very
dwarf |
60–70% |
Compact
canopy, intensive planting |
|
|
Pyrus
communis seedling |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Long
tree life, strong root system |
|
|
Citrus |
Trifoliate
orange |
Dwarf |
40–50% |
Cold
tolerant, disease resistant |
|
Carrizo
citrange |
Semi-vigorous |
20–30% |
Resistant
to tristeza virus, good yield |
|
|
Rough
lemon |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Drought
tolerant, strong growth |
|
|
Rangpur
lime |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Tolerant
to drought and salinity |
|
|
Cleopatra
mandarin |
Semi-vigorous |
20–30% |
Salt
tolerance and good fruit quality |
|
|
Mango |
Vellaikolumban |
Semi-dwarf |
25–30% |
Suitable
for high-density orchards |
|
Olour |
Dwarf |
40–50% |
Reduces
canopy size and improves productivity |
|
|
Kurukkan |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Strong
growth and adaptability |
|
|
Guava |
Psidium
cattleianum |
Dwarf |
40–50% |
Controls
canopy size and improves fruit quality |
|
Aneuploid
rootstock |
Semi-dwarf |
25–35% |
Suitable
for canopy management |
|
|
Seedling
rootstock |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Widely
used traditional rootstock |
|
|
Grapes |
Dogridge |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Nematode
resistant, drought tolerant |
|
Ramsey |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Salt
tolerant, vigorous growth |
|
|
SO4 |
Moderate |
20–30% |
Adaptable
to fertile soils |
|
|
110R |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Drought
tolerant |
|
|
Peach |
Nemaguard |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Nematode
resistant |
|
GF677 |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Tolerant
to calcareous soils |
|
|
Citation |
Semi-dwarf |
30–40% |
Controls
canopy size, early bearing |
|
|
Cherry |
Gisela
5 |
Dwarf |
50–60% |
Suitable
for high-density planting |
|
Colt |
Semi-vigorous |
25–35% |
Good
anchorage |
|
|
Mazzard |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Strong
root system |
|
|
Plum |
St.
Julien A |
Semi-dwarf |
30–40% |
Suitable
for medium-density orchards |
|
Myrobalan |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Adaptable
to different soils |
|
|
Litchi |
Seedling
rootstock |
Vigorous |
0–10% |
Strong
root system and adaptability |
Key Functions of Rootstocks in Canopy
Management
Rootstocks
influence canopy architecture by controlling:
1.
Tree Vigour: Dwarf rootstocks reduce vegetative growth, allowing compact canopy
development.
2.
Tree Height: Dwarfing rootstocks help maintain manageable tree height for
high-density planting systems.
3.
Branching Pattern: Some rootstocks induce better lateral branching and canopy
distribution.
4.
Early Fruiting: Dwarf rootstocks generally induce precocious bearing, improving
orchard productivity.
Importance
in Modern Orchard Systems
Use
of dwarfing rootstocks is essential for:
High density
planting (HDP)
Ultra high density
orchards
Improved light
interception
Efficient pruning
and spraying
Higher yield per
unit area
Example:
In
apple orchards, rootstock M9 enables planting densities of 2000–4000 trees per
hectare, compared to 200–400 trees per hectare in traditional orchards.
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