EFFECT OF ROOTSTOCKS AND SCION CULTIVARS ON GROWTH,  LEAF MINERAL CONCENTRATION AND BIOCHEMICAL  CONTENT OF SELECTED APPLE (Malus domestica L. Borkh)  CULTIVARS AT GIRCHA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
Creators: name: KEMELO KANDO BULA
Publisher: name: National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia
Year: 2018

description: Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is one of the most important temperate fruits  belonging to the  family Rosacea.  Its 
production and productivity is less due to lack of adequate research on type of rootstocks used. Rootstocks play a vital role 
in providing better adaptation of scion varieties to various soil and growing conditions, and also improve their growth, 
precocity, productivity and quality. Therefore, this study was initiated to assess the effect of selected rootstocks on growth, 
leaf mineral concentration and biochemical contents of selected apple cultivars at  Gircha, southern Ethiopia. The 
experiment, consisting of twenty scion cultivars, grafted on MM.106 and Local (local name) rootstocks. The experiment was 
arranged in Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Data on growth, leaf nutrient concentrations 
and biochemical content were collected and analyzed using SAS version 9.3software. Results revealed that scion rootstock 
combination significantly (P&lt;0.05) influenced  vegetative parameters,  leaf nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe  and Mn) and 
biochemical (Proline and Starch) concentrations.  The maximum TCSA (1.8cm) was recorded for Jonica and minimum 
(0.11cm) was recorded for Granny smith grafted on MM.106. Pranch gold grown on local rootstock registered maximum 
number of branches (9.7) on local rootstock and least (2) was registered for Granny smith. More number of buds (133) was 
recorded for Red prince on MM.106 while the  least bud number (24) was recorded for Crispin grafted on local rootstock. 
The highest plant height (1.9m) was for Crispin grown on MM.106, and the least plant height (0.29m) was recorded for 
Enterprise grafted on local rootstock. The maximum leaf area (56.6 cm2
) was recorded for Jonica grafted on MM.106 
rootstock and the least (17cm2
) was recorded for Pinova grafted on local rootstock.  The highest leaf N (2.26%) was 
recorded for Yataka on Local followed by Pranch gold and the least (1.24%) was recorded for Relenda. Whereas Golden 
delicious recorded the highest total nitrogen (2.13%) on MM.106 rootstock followed by Crispin and the least (1.25%) was 
recorded for Richard delicious. The maximum P (0.33%) was recorded for Red delicious on MM.106 and the least (0.11%) 
was recorded for Yataka grafted on local rootstock. The highest K (1.72%) was recorded for Red delicious, on MM.106 and 
the least (0.50%) was for Pranch gold. The highest Ca (1.66%) was recorded for Crispin on MM.106 and the least (0.41%) 
was recorded for Pinova on local rootstock. The highest Mg (0.42%) was recorded for Pinova on MM.106 and the least 
(0.12%) was recorded for Royal gala. The highest Fe (272ppm) was  recorded for Golden delicious on local rootstock 
followed by Pranch gold and the lowest (92ppm) was recorded for Crispin grafted on MM.106. The highest Mn (72ppm) 
was recorded for Pinova on MM.106 while the least (20ppm) was  recorded for  Relenda. The highest leaf biochemical 
content, Proline (3.5%) was recorded for Orin on local rootstock while the least (0.1%) recorded for Pilet on local 
rootstock. The highest starch (5.8%) was recorded for Yataka on local rootstock and the least (0.28%) was recorded for 
Obra gala grafted on MM.106. The results of this study demonstrated that scion rootstock combination had a considerable 
effect on vegetative growth, leaf nutrient concentration and biochemical contents of apple cultivars.