BABY BUDAGOVSKY

Rootstock "Baby Budagovsky" (code 76‑6‑6) – a dwarf apple rootstock bred by Prof. V.I. Budagovsky. It is distinguished by anthocyanin leaf, bark, and wood coloring, as well as compact growth: the height of 7-year-old trees ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 m, and young grafted bushes do not require support.

Key characteristics include moderate shoot-forming ability – by the fourth year of operation, the mother plant typically forms 6–7 suckers per bush, of which about 50% are standard. Trees quickly begin bearing fruit: the first fruits appear already by the third year after planting. Yield from one tree reaches 16–20 kg.

The rootstock reproduces well with suckers in mother plants, as well as with green and lignified cuttings in greenhouses. The root system is developed and withstands low temperatures down to –16 °C. It is resistant to drought, diseases, and pests, is compatible with all studied apple varieties, and increases the productivity of such varieties as Northern Sinyap, Melba, and Zhigulevskoye, making them less vigorous compared to other rootstocks.