Influence of Rootstocks on Plum Productivity in Different Growing Regions

Proper selection of rootstock that is adapted to local growing conditions and climate is one of the most important preconditions for obtaining high yield in intensive plum orchards. The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the influence of different rootstocks on the productivity of two plum cultivars: ‘Kubanskaya Kometa’ (Prunus rossica. Erem.) and ‘Victoria’ (P. domestica L.) in different climatic conditions. The following sixteen rootstocks known in Europe were used in the trial: eight vegetatively propagated (‘St. Julien A’, ‘Brompton’, ‘Ackermann’, ‘Pixy’, ‘GF 8/1’, ‘G 5/22’, ‘GF 655/2’, ‘Hamyra’) and eight generatively propagated (‘St. Julien INRA2’, ‘St. Julien d’Orleans’, ‘St. Julien Noir’, ‘Brompton’, ‘Wangenheims Zwetsche’, ‘St. Julien Wädenswil’, ‘Myrobalan’, P. cerasifera var. divaricata). The evaluation was made in experimental orchards in Latvia, Estonia and Belarus. Orchards were established in spring 2001. Trees were planted at spacing 3 × 5 m in four replications, three trees per plot. The data obtained in years 2008-2015 are presented. The yield was influenced by rootstock and differed between years, growing regions and cultivars. The meteorological conditions during wintering period had significant influence on yield for trees on all evaluated rootstocks.