INTERSTEM GRAFTS TO EVALUATE PEAR GERMPLASM FOR DWARF POTENTIAL

• Sponsoring Institution: Agricultural Research Service/USDA
• Project Status: ACTIVE
• Funding Source: USDA INHOUSE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0434737
• Project Start Date: May 1, 2017
• Project End Date: Jun 30, 2019
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
(N/A)
CORVALLIS,OR 97331

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
(N/A)

Animal Health Component

90%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

10%

Applied

90%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
202	1115	1080	100%

Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
1115 - Pear;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics;

Keywords

pear

rootstock

dwarfing

germplasm

evaluation

Goals / Objectives
1. Examine whether interstem grafts can be used to identify pear selections that have dwarfing potential. 2. Provide a rapid assay for screening pear germplasm for prospective rootstock candidates.

Project Methods
Approximately 40 pear selections will be evaluated for dwarfing potential by using them as interstems, grafted onto Bartlett seedling rootstocks. Some of these selections are known to be either dwarfing or vigorous when scions are grafted onto them directly. Scion cultivars Bartlett and Bose will be simultaneously grafted onto the interstem pieces. Grafted trees will be grown in pots for the first growing season. Vegetative growth of cultivar scions (stem diameter and height) will be evaluated at the end of the first growing season. Trees will be planted in a replicated field trial for another year.