Grafting of quince 'Portugal' on Cydonia and Chaenomeles rootstocks

In the specific case of the quince trees, there is lack of information about the emergency of their seedlings, development and time of production of rootstocks to reach the point of the grafting, as well as development of the grafts. Therefore, the objective of the present research was to study the Cydonia and Chaenomeles genera, as well as the development of the grafts during the nursery phase. Seeds of the quince tree cultivars 'Mendoza Inta-37', 'Provence', ' Portugal' and 'Japonês' were obtained from ripe fruits and submitted to cold stratification during 20 days. Soon after, the seeds were sowed in 72-cell polystyrene trays (120 cm³ of capacity/cell) containing vermiculite as substrate. After 60 days, the seedlings were put in plastic bags (3 liters of capacity) filled with a substrate containing soil: sand: manure (1:1:1 v/v). The seedlings were kept in a 50% of shadow nursery and periodically irrigated. After 180 days, the seedlings were grafted by the cleft grafting method, during the winter, using scion sticks from quince 'Portugal'. After 60 days, the percentage of alive and sprouted grafts was evaluated. The length and diameter of the grafts were measured every 30 days, a total of four times. The quince 'Japonês' showed the best performance among all the rootstocks in this experiment, being an excellent alternative as rootstock for quince trees. 'Japonês' and 'Mendoza Inta-37' were also the rootstocks that promoted the best development of the grafts.

Quince 'CPP': new dwarf rootstock for pear trees on organic and high density planting

In Brazil, pear production presents the same incipient situation over the last 15 years, due mostly to low production technology. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the development, growth and production of the pear tree cultivars Cascatense, Tenra and Hosui grafted on 'CPP' quince rootstock, using 'FT' pear as interstem. This trial was carried out in Guarapuava, State of Paraná, Southern region of Brazil, by five productive cycles. The pear trees were planted in September of 2004, spaced at 1.0 x 4.0 m (2,500 trees ha-1), trained to the modified central leader, on a Four-wire trellis, with drip irrigation and cultivated under organic production system. The following variables were evaluated: sprouting, anthesis, yield, fruit weight, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, pulp firmness, canopy area per plant and per hectare and trunk diameter. The pear tree cv. Tenra was outstanding most of the years for fruit yield, and, consequently, showed the highest accumulated yield over the period (51.6 t ha-1), followed by the cultivars Cascatense (39.7 t ha-1) and Hosui (18.7 t ha-1). All pear cultivars presented suitable physical-chemical characteristics for commercial purposes, with minimal average soluble solids content of 11% at harvest. The maximum canopy area per hectare was attained for cv. Cascatense (3063.2 m²), that was considered insufficient for a high yield. These results suggest the needs for studies with higher density planting and other training systems, searching optimize canopy volume. One of the most limiting factors in the organic pear orchard was the incidence of pear dieback caused by Botriosphaeria dothidea, severe more often in pear trees cv. Hosui.

Compatibilidade de enxertia de cultivares de marmeleiros com pereiras

A insuficiência de estudos sobre compatibilidade de porta-enxertos é um dos fatores limitantes ao desenvolvimento da cultura da pereira (Pyrus sp.) no Brasil. A utilização do marmeleiro (Cydonia oblonga) como porta-enxerto para a cultura da pereira apresenta inúmeras vantagens, entre as quais a redução do vigor e a rápida entrada em produção; todavia, sua combinação com algumas cultivares copa apresenta problemas de incompatibilidade de enxertia, podendo ocasionar a ruptura do caule das plantas no pomar. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a compatibilidade de enxertia de algumas cultivares de marmeleiros ('Quince C' e 'Adams') com pereiras ('Packham's Triumph' e 'Kieffer'). As variáveis analisadas foram: diâmetro da secção do tronco no ponto de enxertia, 5 cm abaixo e 5 cm acima do ponto de enxertia, diferença do diâmetro entre porta-enxerto e copa, altura das plantas, volume e massa seca da copa e raízes. Além disso, efetuou-se a observação da conexão vascular no ponto de enxertia através da imersão da base das plantas (abaixo do ponto de enxertia), em solução corante de Ácido Fuccínico 0,08%. Concluiu-se que a cultivar 'Packham's Triumph'apresenta compatibilidade de enxertia com o marmeleiro cultivares 'Adams'e 'Quince C', enquanto o híbrido 'Kieffer' apresentou sintomas morfológicos de incompatibilidade de enxertia com o marmeleiro cultivares 'Quince C' e 'Adams'.