Effect of the Rootstock and Cultivar on Graft Success and Sapling Development and Graft Incompatibility in Pear

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different rootstocks on graft success, sapling development and graft compatibility/incompatibility of 'Deveci' and 'Williams' pear cultivars in Samsun ecological conditions between 2014 and 2016 years. Graft incompatibility was attempted to be associated with morphological measurements in the graft union. Rootstock, cultivar and rootstockxcultivar interaction had a significant effect on the all examined parameters. In the study, graft take ratios were between 91.5-100.0%, graft sprout ratios were between 89.2-99.0% and survival ratios were between 83.7-99.0%. The graft sprout ratio was the highest in the OHxF333 and lowest was in the BA29 rootstock. The graft sprout and survival ratios were lower in quince rootstock than in pear rootstocks. Rootstock diameters were higher in the OHxF333 and seedling rootstocks than in the Fox11 and BA29 rootstocks. Graft union diameter and shoot diameter were lower in the Fox11 than the other rootstocks. Shoot length was higher in the OHxF333 than the other rootstocks. Especially considering the graft success and the diameter measurements made in the graft union, it has been found that some scion/stock combinations may show graft incompatibility. The 'Williams'/BA29 combination may be incompatible due to the lower survival ratio and diameter values in the graft union than other combinations. Although graft success is sufficient, it should be noted that the 'Williams'/Fox11, whose rootstock diameter and graft union diameter are lower than the others, may show graft incompatibility. 'Deveci' cultivar shows good compatibility with all rootstocks due to the higher graft success and sapling performance.