Effect of Grafting on Iron Uptake of Farold 40, OHF 333 and OHF 87 Pear Rootstocks from the Soil

ABSTRACT

The response of cultivars to iron (Fe) deficiency and the effects of cultivars on Fe-nutrition of rootstocks was investigated through Active-Fe content of the leaf. Leaf samples were taken from the mid-sections of the nursery trees and they were subjected to Active-Fe and Total–Fe analyses. There were significant differences in Fe-nutrition of ungrafted rootstocks, but differences were not observed when the rootstocks were grafted pear cultivars cv. ‘Deveci’ and ‘Santa Maria.’ On the other hand, significant differences were observed between the cultivars when they were grafted on different rootstocks. The effect of cultivar on Fe-nutrition of the rootstock was also found to be significant. According to the ungrafted rootstock, cultivars except ‘Deveci’ grafted on Old Home x Farmingdale (OHxF) 333 (OHF 333) decreased the Fe-nutrition of the rootstock. The combination of OHF 333 x ‘Deveci’ was quite different and it significantly improved the Fe-uptake of the rootstock. It should be taken into consideration cultivar-induced and/or rootstock x cultivar combinations-induced differences under chlorosis-induced conditions at the new pear orchard establishment.

KEYWORDS:

• Rootstock
• ‘Deveci’
• interaction
• mineral nutrition
• ‘Santa Maria’

Acknowledgments

Authors express their sincere thanks to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeki GOKALP (A Notarize-Certified English Translator and an expert in Agricultural Engineering) for his critical English review of the paper.