Abstract:
A new and distinct variety of walnut rootstock denominated ‘VX211’ is described. This new variety, ‘VX211’, can be propagated through micropropagation or rooted cuttings. ‘VX211’ has vigor and survivability in the nursery and in the orchard. It has reduced susceptibility to damage from nematodes ( Pratylenchus vulnus ) compared to other Paradox rootstock. ‘VX211’ also has reduced susceptibility to damage from  Phytophthora citricola  in greenhouse screens and in the field compared to other Paradox rootstock.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     Botanical/commercial classification: ( Juglans hindsii×Juglans regia )/new Paradox walnut rootstock. Varietal denomination: ‘VX211’.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a new and distinct clonal rootstock of Paradox walnut tree ( Juglans hindsii×Juglans regia ) that has been denominated varietally as ‘VX211’, and more particularly to such a walnut rootstock that is vigorous, that has reduced susceptibility to nematodes ( Pratylenchus vulnus ) and Phytophthora ( Phytophthora citricola ), and that further is easily clonally propagated by micropropagation.  
         [0003]     It has long been recognized as desirable to provide vigorous walnut rootstocks that have increased resistance to soil pests and diseases, specifically nematodes ( Pratylenchus vulnus ) and Phytophthora ( Phytophthora citricola ). The rootstock of the present variety, ‘VX211’, is similar to other Paradox walnut rootstocks ( Juglans hindsii×Juglans regia ), except that it has increased resistance or tolerance to  Pratylenchus vulnus  and  Phytophthora citricola  and can be easily micropropagated to produce a vigorous clonal Paradox rootstock.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It was found that the walnut rootstock ‘VX211’ of the present invention exhibits the following combination of characteristics: 
        a) can be propagated through micropropagation or rooted cuttings;     b) has vigor and survivability in the nursery and in the orchard;     c) has reduced susceptibility to damage from nematodes ( Pratylenchus vulnus ) compared to other Paradox rootstock; and     d) has reduced susceptibility to damage from  Phytophthora citricola  in greenhouse screens and in the field compared to other Paradox rootstock.        
 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TABLES  
       [0009]     Table 1 shows comparative nursery performance of ‘VX211’ and other walnut rootstock clones.  
         [0010]     Table 2 shows growth rating and diameters for ‘VX211” and other rootstock clones.  
         [0011]     Table 3 shows field performance of clonal Paradox walnut hybrids, Northern California black walnut and Chinese wingnut rootstocks in non-infested soil and soil infested with Phytophthora. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows performance of ‘VX211’ compared to ‘AX1’ under pressure from nematodes at varying densities.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a visual rating of tree growth and condition of clonal and seedling test trees at a Jenny Lind, Calif. field site.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows cumulative percent mortality of clonal and seedling test trees at a Jenny Lind, Calif. field site.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows tree mortality of clonal and seedling test trees at a Linden, Calif. field site.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows relative resistance to  Phytophthora citricola  among clonal and seedling test trees in greenhouse experiment.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  shows ‘VX211’ at 10 years of age.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  shows bark of ten-year old ‘VX211’.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  shows several three-year old trees of ‘VX211’.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  shows bark at base of three-year old ‘VX211’.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  shows bark and lenticels farther up the stem of ‘VX211’.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  shows 6-month old greenhouse grown ‘VX211’.  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  shows grafted ‘VX211’.  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  shows spring foliage of ‘VX211’.  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  shows deep red of new foliage of ‘VX211’.  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  shows upper side of mature leaf of ‘VX211’.  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  shows lower side of mature leaf of ‘VX211’. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     The new rootstock of the present invention was selected as part of the “Paradox Diversity Study” (PDS) which was initiated in 1996 to study the genetic diversity of commercial Paradox sources. The study included approximately 300-500 seeds each (depending on the predicted percent Paradox), from 37 black walnut sources of Paradox provided by California walnut nurseries, and seven controlled crosses made at the University of California, Davis and open-pollinated controls from different  Juglans  species. Seeds were germinated and grown at 3 different nurseries for one year and then seedlings were distributed to cooperating researchers for tests of response to nematodes, Phytophthora (seed supplied), crown gall ( Agrobacterium tumefaciens ) and the field environment (field trials). The study was repeated in 1997.  
         [0029]     The rootstock of the present invention was evaluated for response to nematodes in 1998 along with 9 siblings and the remaining rootstock families. One-year old seedlings were planted on 1.2 or 1.8 meter spacing with 3.35 meter centers. The field test site was infested with a single population of root lesion nematode ( P. vulnus ) originally placed on site in 1976. At planting time seedlings were inoculated with additional  P. vulnus.  Each fall 20 grams of root tissue were collected from each tree. These roots were placed in a mist chamber for 5 days for nematode extraction and nematodes/gram root was calculated.  
         [0030]     In July 1998 it was evident that one seedling (‘VX211’) was more vigorous than the others, but in the fall the nematodes were abundant on the roots of ‘VX211’. In July 1999 roots were collected and again nematodes were found to be abundant, but the seedling ‘VX211’ continued to be more vigorous than the other seedlings in spite of the nematodes. Due to its apparent superiority it was transplanted to a “mother block” at Kearney Agricultural Center. In winter 2000-2001 propagating wood was collected and ‘VX211’ was propagated by hardwood cuttings and by micropropagation. In 2002 a “stock block” was established on the U.C. Davis campus with 6 trees of ‘VX211’ as well as other promising selections.  
         [0031]     Propagation of ‘VX211’ both by standard hardwood cuttings and micropropagation was successful. From November 2002. to October 2003, 212 ‘VX211’ plants were micropropagated, rooted in gelled medium and acclimatized in the greenhouse; 153 (72%) survived. When rooted ex vitro, 126/184 (68%) survived. Hardwood cuttings rooted between 73% (11/15) to 87% (13/15). By November 2003 there were 187 available for field trials and 60 available for Phytophthora screening.  
         [0032]     In March 2004, 48 plants of the ‘VX211’ clone and a standard Paradox (AX1) were evaluated for additional nematode screening and comparison. These were planted in 1/100 th  acre macroplots. The macroplots had concrete sides 1.5 meter deep into the soil with open bottoms and were nematode-free. ‘VX211’ and AX1 were planted side by side in 48 separate macroplots infested with 0, 1, 20, or 500  P. vulnus  nematodes per 250 cc of soil. Tree diameters and number of nematodes on the roots were determined 2004-2006 ( FIG. 1 ). Nematodes built up quickly but ‘VX211’ was 30% taller in the first year and the diameter of ‘VX211’ was significantly greater than AX1 in all three years ( FIG. 1 ). The vigor of ‘VX211’ under pressure from nematodes suggests that ‘VX211’ has a means to avoid or escape severe damage from nematodes.  
         [0033]     In spring 2004, 106 plants of ‘VX211’ produced through micropropagation were planted in a nursery along with over 1800 plants of 17 different clones. At the end of the growing season ‘VX211’ was the most vigorous of all clones (Table 1). Eighty-two percent were graftable and the mean diameter was 31 mm at 5 cm from the soil surface.  
         [0034]     Graftable trees were distributed for grafted field trials in 5 different orchards in replant situations in 2005. Grafting posed no problem and ‘VX211’ is considered compatible with English walnut scions. It is a typical Paradox in that respect. In addition, 30 each of 11 different genoptypes including ‘VX211’ were planted in May 2005 in Armstrong Tract, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis campus, for artificial inoculation with  Phytophthora citricola.  A randomized block split plot design was used. For each rootstock clone, there were six four-tree plots to be infested and six single-tree plots to serve as non-infested controls. Northern California black ( Juglans hindsii ) and wingnut ( Pterocarya stenoptera ) were included as susceptible and resistant controls, respectively. In January 2006, 100 ml of a V8 juice-oat mixture infested with  Phytophthora citricola  was mixed into the upper 5 cm of soil around the trunk of each tree. A sterile mixture was applied to the uninoculated controls.  
         [0035]     Early results from several of the grafted field trials are shown ( FIGS. 2-4 ; Table 2). In all cases ‘VX211’ was one of the superior clones. The block artificially inoculated with Phytophthora was assessed for growth in trunk circumference and development of crown rot as indicated by trunk cankers extending up from the soil surface in November 2006. Sixty-two percent of the susceptible controls were rotted or dead. The uninoculated controls of ‘VX211’ were the most vigorous trees in the block apart from the wingnut controls. No cankers were found on ‘VX211’ or many of the other clones, however the Phytophthora inoculation did appear to depress growth somewhat in ‘VX211’ (Table 3).  
         [0036]     Simultaneously with field trials, greenhouse trials were carried out to assess the relative susceptibility of ‘VX211’ and other selected clones to  Phytophthora citricola.  Standard Phytophthora screening methods were used. Clonal selections including ‘VX211’ were micropropagated, rooted, acclimatized and chilled, and at 2-6 months were transplanted to pots of artificially inoculated soil. Four isolates of  P. citricola  from different districts of California were used to infest the soil. The isolates were grown in separate jars of V8 juice-oat-vermiculite substrate for one month, mixed in equal proportions and mixed in the soil (40 ml inoculated substrate per liter of soil). Starting two weeks after transplanting, all plants received 48-hour periods of soil flooding every two weeks. Three months after transplanting, soil was washed from the plants and the incidence and severity of crown rot were determined. One selected clone, VX211 consistently showed moderate resistance. The results from 2006 trials are shown in  FIG. 5 .  
       BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT  
       [0037]     This description is based on the original selection of ‘VX211’, ungrafted, at ten years of age, a 3-year old ungrafted tree in Phytophthora field screen, and a greenhouse-grown plant at 6 months of age. Figures are also shown of a grafted ‘VX211’ tree. Data for the botanical description were collected in spring 2007.  
         [0038]     The Munsell Color Charts for Plant Tissues (1977. GretagMacbeth, New Windsor N.Y.) is used in the identification of color. Also, common color terms are to be accorded their ordinary dictionary significance, 
    Botanical classification:  Juglans hindsii×Juglans regia       Female parent:  Juglans hindsii       Male parent:  Juglans regia ‘VX 211’ differs from its female parent by having fewer leaflets/leaf, broader leaflets and hybrid vigor. ‘VX211’ differs from its male parent by having more leaflets/leaf and hybrid vigor. ‘VX211’ does not differ substantially from other similar hybrids except in its superior performance under adverse soil conditions as described in the “Background of the Invention”.     Plant: The growth habit of the tree is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . This 10 year old tree is approximately 7.3 meters in height with a canopy diameter of approximately 5 meters. The trunk circumference at 1.2 meters above ground level is about 0.61 meters. The bark and year-old branches are light brown (2.5Y 7/2) ( FIG. 7 ). New shoots are green (5GY 7/6). Lenticels (approximately 12 per 2.5 square cm) are slightly lighter than the bark (2.5Y 8/2). The 3 year old trees are 4.3-4.9 meters tall ( FIG. 8 ). The bark is brownish-green (2.5GY 5/8) with scattered (22/2.5 square cm.) buff-colored lenticels (7.5YR 8/2) ( FIGS. 9, 10 ). The six month old greenhouse grown tree is about 35 cm. tall and the main stem is about 1 cm. in diameter ( FIG. 11 ) and green (5GY/10). Lenticels about 0.5 mm long are more dense at the base of the plant and are a buff color (2.5Y 8/4). Graft take is in the normal range for seedling Paradox walnuts ( FIG. 12 ).     Foliage: The slightly pubescent new spring foliage has a reddish hue to it (10R 4/8), darkest towards the tip ( FIGS. 13 and 14 ) turning green (5GY 5/6) as the leaves get older. The leaves are pinnately compound with 13-15 leaflets. The mature leaves of the 6 month old plant have 9-11 leaflets and are 30 cm long and 23 cm. wide. The upper leaf surface is bright green and the same color as the stem (5GY 5/10) ( FIG. 14 ). The lower surface is slightly duller (5GY 6/6) ( FIG. 16 ). The leaflets are about 5 cm wide and 14 cm. long with a petiole 4-8 cm. long.     Inflorescence: No catkins or female flowers appeared in the first 10 years. The tree is probably male sterile as is typical with  Juglans hindsii×Juglans regia  hybrids.     Disease resistance and susceptibility: This rootstock is typical of other  Juglans Hindsii×Juglans regia  hybrids except that it possesses higher vigor and ability to survive heavy nematode loads. It is also less susceptible to  Phytophthora citricola  than other similar hybrids.     Usage: The new rootstock of the present invention provides walnut growers with a new clonally propagated Paradox rootstock. It can be easily micropropagated.    
 
         [0047]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Clones grown in Stanislaus County, California in 2004 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Plan- 
                 Graftable 
                 Graftable 
                 Diameter (mm) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Clone 
                 ted N 
                 N 
                 % 
                 Mean 
                 SD 
                 Range 
                 CV 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Nematodes 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 VX211 
                 106 
                 87 
                 82 
                 31 
                 4.9 
                 21-44 
                 12.6 
               
               
                 Phytophthora 
               
               
                 AZ2 
                 230 
                 151 
                 66 
                 26 
                 5 
                 13-38 
                 19.2 
               
               
                 AZ3 
                 49 
                 24 
                 49 
                 25 
                 6.7 
                 11-37 
                 26.8 
               
               
                 NZ1 
                 172 
                 111 
                 64 
                 26 
                 4.4 
                 10-39 
                 16.9 
               
               
                 JX2 
                 246 
                 191 
                 78 
                 29 
                 4.1 
                 13-39 
                 14.1 
               
               
                 RX1 
                 104 
                 78 
                 75 
                 18 
                 1.6 
                 14-22 
                 8.8 
               
               
                 AX1 
                 163 
                 86 
                 53 
                 27 
                 4.3 
                 14-40 
                 15.9 
               
               
                 GZ1 
                 108 
                 83 
                 77 
                 26 
                 5.4 
                 13-40 
                 20.8 
               
               
                 Px1 
                 247 
                 154 
                 62 
                 26 
                 4.6 
                 12-40 
                 17.7 
               
               
                 AZ1 
                 52 
                 38 
                 73 
                 30 
                 4.4 
                 22-43 
                 14.7 
               
               
                 UX1 
                 27 
                 23 
                 85 
                 25 
                 4 
                 15-30 
                 16 
               
               
                 GZ2 
                 47 
                 38 
                 81 
                 26 
                 4.5 
                 15-33 
                 17.3 
               
               
                 Blackline 
               
               
                 WIP3 
                 158 
                 66 
                 42 
                 26 
                 5 
                 12-35 
                 19.2 
               
               
                 WIP9 
                 10 
                 6 
                 60 
                 25 
                 2.3 
                 23~99 
                 9.2 
               
               
                 Control 
               
               
                 UX022 
                 71 
                 59 
                 83 
                 23 
                 3.7 
                 14-29 
                 16.1 
               
               
                 English 
               
               
                 Vina 
                 14 
                 10 
                 71 
                 18 
                 3.7 
                 13-24 
                 20.5 
               
               
                 Sunland 
                 64 
                 20 
                 31 
                 26 
                 3.8 
                 18-31 
                 14.6 
               
               
                 Totals 
                 1868 
                 1225 
                 66 
                 25 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0048]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Walnut Rootstock Orchard Trials-Yuba County. 
               
               
                 Established May 2005. Randomized complete block design with 4 
               
               
                 clonal and 1 seedling Paradox rootstock. Twelve single tree replicates. 
               
               
                 All rootstocks generally grew well except AZ2. Midday stem water 
               
               
                 potential measurements suggest that replants and adjacent orchard trees 
               
               
                 were generally in a similar range to the replants. AZ2 did not. grow well 
               
               
                 despite having midday stem water potentials in a similar range to 
               
               
                 adjacent trees and the other replants. There was 100% survival 
               
               
                 of all replant sources. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 June 
                   
                 December 
                 November 
                 % Change 
               
               
                   
                 2005 
                 June 2005 
                 2005 
                 2006 
                 (June 
               
               
                   
                 Growth 
                 Diameter 
                 Diameter 
                 Diameter 
                 2005 to 
               
               
                 Treatment 
                 Rating* 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 Nov. 2006) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 VX211 
                 3.0 
                 29.0 
                 31.2 
                 42.5 a 
                 +46.6 
               
               
                 AZ2 
                 2.0 
                 26.9 
                 28.5 
                 26.2 c 
                 −2.6′ 
               
               
                 NZ1 
                 2.9 
                 23.5 
                 25.8 
                 35.6 b 
                 +51.4 
               
               
                 JX2 
                 2.2 
                 23.7 
                 26.4 
                 35.2 b 
                 +48.5 
               
               
                 CONTROL 
                 1.4 
                 20.5 
                 22.4 
                 30.0 bc 
                 +46.3 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 *rootstocks were headed near or below 2005 diameter measurement point. 
               
               
                 2006 measurement is on new shoot growing above previous cut. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 ′Growth rating descriptions: 
                 0 No growth 
               
               
                   
                 1 Just breaking 
               
               
                   
                 2 Moderate growth 
               
               
                   
                 3 Vigorous growth 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0049]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Field performance of clonal Paradox walnut hybrids, Northern California 
               
               
                 black walnut and Chinese wingnut rootstocks in non-infested 
               
               
                 soil and soil infested with Phytophthora. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Maternal background 
                   
                   
                 Percent of 
                 Incidence of 
                 Increase in 
               
               
                 Clone 
                 of hybrid 
                 Soil treatment 
                 Incidence of 
                 trunk circ. 
                 tree mortality 
                 trunk circ. 
               
               
                 (or species) 
                 (or species of standard) 
                 (January 2006) 
                 crown rot (%) 
                 Necrotic 
                 % 
                 (mm) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AX1 
                 
                   californica 
                 
                 Control 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 163 c 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                  4 c 
                  1 c 
                  0 c 
                 146 cde 
               
               
                 AZ2 
                 
                   (major x hindsii)x nigra 
                 
                 Control 
                  0 c 
                  0 C 
                  0 C 
                 116 fg 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 117 fg 
               
               
                 NZ1 
                 
                   (major x hindsii)x nigra 
                 
                 Control 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 116 fg 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 130 def 
               
               
                 GZ1 
                 
                   hindsii 
                 
                 Control 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 157 cd 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                  4 c 
                  1 c 
                  0 c 
                 150 cd 
               
               
                 JX2 
                 
                   hindsii 
                 
                 Control 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 166 bc 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 135 def 
               
               
                 PX1 
                 
                   hindsii 
                 
                 Control 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 0 c 
                 169 bc 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                  8 c 
                  1 c 
                  0 c 
                 157 cd 
               
               
                 VX211 
                 
                   hindsii 
                 
                 Control 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 191 b 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 147 cde 
               
               
                 RX1 
                 
                   microcarpa 
                 
                 Control 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 112 fg 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 116 fg 
               
               
                 WIP3 
                 
                   hindsii x regia 
                 
                 Control 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                  0 c 
                 100 g 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                  8 bc 
                  2 c 
                  0 c 
                 121 efg 
               
               
                 (NCB) 
                 ( J. hindsii ) 
                 Control 
                 16 b 
                 17 b 
                 17 b 
                 68 h 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                 62 a 
                 59 a 
                 59 a 
                 57 h 
               
               
                 (Wingnut) 
                 ( P. stenopiera ) 
                 Control 
                 0 c 
                 0 b 
                 0 e 
                 226 a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 
                   P. citricola 
                 
                 0 c 
                 0 b 
                 0 c 
                 193 b 
               
               
                   
               
               
                     2 All trees were planted May 2005. The assements of crown rot and mortality were made Nov. 21, 2006. Means within a column and without letters in common are significantly different (Waller k ratio).