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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Crop Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #166863
Title: ROOTSTOCK INFLUENCE ON TREE PERFORMANCE

Author
item Grauke, Larry
item Thompson, Tommy
item Wood, Bruce
item STOREY, J. - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Texas Pecan Growers Association
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/3/2002
Publication Date: 11/1/2003
Citation: Grauke, L.J., Thompson, T.E., Wood, B.W., Storey, J.B. 2003. Rootstock influence on tree performance. Proceedings of Texas Pecan Growers Association. 70:20-24.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Data from several sources is presented to illustrate the role that rootstocks can have on tree performance. Seedling growth is influenced by the geographic origin of the seedstock, with seedstocks collected south of the orchard site generally having a size advantage over those collected to the north. Patterns of seedling phenology also vary with geographic origin of the seedstock. Southern seedstocks generally have earlier dates of spring growth as well as later dates of continued growth in the fall. Nutrient uptake varies between seedstocks, with seedlings grown from seed collected in western, alkaline soils showing higher Zn contents than some other populations. Recommendations concerning management of rootstocks can be generalized for particular applications. Specific recommendations are made: for nurserymen, who seek to optimize seedling growth to promote early propagation and sale; for growers, who seek vigorous, adapted rootstocks for establishment of uniform, precocious and productive orchards; for researchers, who must control the variable of rootstock to produce appropriate test systems; for regional conservationists, who seek to maximize diversity and maintain regional adaptation in state conservation plantings.