Choice of rootstocks and cultivars in organic fruit production.

Abstract

This chapter discusses some considerations in the selection of rootstocks and cultivars of dessert apple, dessert pear, stone fruit species (sweet and sour cherries, and plums) and small fruit (strawberries, raspberries, brambles, red currants, black currants, goosebberries and blueberries) for organic production. A description of the major characteristics (ripening, yield, quality, and pest and disease resistance) of the most important market apple cultivars for organic production is presented, and guidelines on site selection, plant training, fertilizer (N, P, K and Mg) application, planting time, spacing, planting technique, weed control and irrigation are provided for dessert pear, small fruit and plum organic production.

Yield and profitability of ‘Conference’ pear in five training systems in North East of Spain

“…Pear orchards in North America are mostly planted on Pyrus seedling rootstocks, as Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) rootstocks routinely suffer from winter damage, fire blight (Erwinia amylovora Burill) infections and pear decline (Westwood & Lombard, 1983;Lind et al, 2003;Mitcham & Elkins, 2007;Robinson, 2011). However, clonal pear rootstocks generally delay cropping with respect to Quince (Sansavini & Musacchi, 2002).…”