A rootstock is a specialized material used in horticulture to improve the growth and productivity of apple trees. It consists of clonal rootstocks obtained from dwarf varieties, which allow regulating growth vigor, accelerating fruiting, and increasing yield. Such rootstocks are used both in commercial orchards and in experimental breeding research.
During research conducted in 2020–2021 at the educational-experimental garden of St. Petersburg State Agrarian University, eight clonal apple rootstocks from the Michurin State Agrarian University selection were studied. These included varieties 'Malish Budagovsky', 54-118, 57-490, 62-223, 62-396, 64-143, 67-5(32), and 70-6-8. The main goal was to evaluate the ability to propagate vegetatively through woody cuttings collected from the middle and lower parts of shoots.
The results showed that cuttings obtained from the lower part of shoots have significantly higher regenerative capacity (from 70.4% to 95.0%) compared to cuttings from the middle part (35.5–58.8%). The highest biometric growth and development indicators were observed in rootstocks grown from the lower part of shoots. The yield of standard rootstocks varied from 40.2% to 92.5%, depending on the specific form. These data confirm the effectiveness of using clonal rootstocks as a means to improve the quality and quantity of apple crop.
A rootstock from the lower part of shoots also demonstrates high winter hardiness and resistance to agronomic loads, making it a preferred choice for gardeners aiming for stable growth and fruiting. Thanks to the possibility of vegetative propagation through woody cuttings, this material ensures economic efficiency of production and preservation of the genetic characteristics of original varieties.
