Norwegian Journal of Agricultural Sciences : performance of five plum rootstocks over 17 years to five commercial important plum cultivars in Norway

Abstract

In a rootstock trial over 17 years the performance of the plum rootstocks St. Julien seedling, St. Julien A, Brompton, Myrobalan B and Marianna to the cultivars 'Rivers Early Prolific', 'Opal', 'Oullins Gage', 'Count Althan's Gage' and 'Victoria' was assessed. Tree vigour was affected by rootstocks in the following way: Myrobalan B > Brompton> St. Julien A, St. Julien seedling> Marianna. St. Julien A produced the highest yield to the semi-vigorous 'Opal' and the vigorous 'Count Althan's Gage', while Brompton and Myrobalan B were most productive to 'Rivers Early Prolific' and 'Victoria', both cultivars of moderate vigour. St. Julien A, however, had the highest yield efficiency for all cultivars with the exception of 'Rivers Early Prolific'. Depending on cultivar, fruit size was favourably affected by St. Julien A and Marianna, while trees on Myrobalan B produced smaller fruits. The content of soluble solids was higher in plums produced on Marianna than on Myrobalan B. In conclusion St. Julien A is recommended as a reliable semi-vigorous rootstock for plums.