{"id":863,"date":"2023-01-16T14:25:50","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T13:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ticinoweb02.jcloud.ik-server.com\/alpagrum\/rootstocks\/"},"modified":"2024-03-06T09:59:42","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T08:59:42","slug":"rootstocks","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alpagrumi.ch\/en\/rootstocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Rootstocks"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Rootstocks<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n \n <\/i> <\/div>\n\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n What is a rootstock? <\/span>\n\n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Almost all commercial fruit trees are grafted.<\/p>\n

They are in fact made up of two welded plants:<\/p>\n

- rootstock for the root system<\/p>\n

- the<\/span> graft for the trunk and canopy<\/p>\n

You can see the grafting point on each tree: a stitch down the trunk, still visible even on mature trees.<\/p>\n

This ancient technique combines :<\/p>\n

- the rootstock's qualities of vigour and resistance<\/p>\n

- productivity and flavour of grafted fruit<\/p>\n

Citrus trees in general lend themselves well to grafting, but the wrong combination can weaken the resulting tree.<\/p>\n

Example:
<\/em>A Yuzu (up to -16<\/em>\u00b0<\/em>C) <\/em>grafted on a Volkameriana (about -5<\/em>\u00b0<\/em>C)<\/em> will lose much of its natural resistance to cold.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n A brief history of rootstocks <\/span>\n\n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Extensive commercial cultivation of citrus fruit has spread across all continents over the last two centuries.<\/p>\n

In the 19th century, the first rootstocks were mainly bitter orange trees capable of transmitting their increased vigor to the graft without altering the taste of the fruit. Another example is Volkameriana, a natural hybrid (Lemon x Mandarin) probably of Italian origin.<\/p>\n

Scientific research and systematic testing began in the USA at the end of the 19th century, organized by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA botanists, Walter T. Swingle in particular, selected new species and varieties from wild citrus. Among them is Poncirus Trifoliata, native to northern China, the only deciduous citrus whose fruit is inedible. Hybrids were created as early as 1897 and tested for decades, leading to new, ever more productive rootstocks such as Citrumelo Swingle (Poncirus x Pomelo) (1974) and numerous Citrange (Poncirus x Sweet Orange) including Carrizo (1938) and C35 (1987)<\/span>. All of them have become widespread in mass-production regions: Spain and Italy, the United States and Australia.<\/p>\n

But researchers never stop, and cross-breeding has continued, with citrus fruits being particularly well-suited.<\/p>\n

Since large-scale commercial cultivation has long been, and still is today, limited to areas with a mild climate (in Europe, the Mediterranean rim), the selection of new rootstocks has focused on tolerance to limestone, salt, flooding and the most common diseases and parasites.<\/p>\n

In 2003, the University of Valencia obtained Forner-Alcaide 5 (Poncirus x Mandarin), resistant not only to the Tristeza virus, but also to Phytophthora, a root fungus, and to the nematode Tylenchulus semipenetrans, a rootworm. The FA5 also proved to have good tolerance of calcareous soils, moderately salty soils and repeated flooding, as well as exceptional resistance to cold. Thanks to its versatility, it has the potential to become the rootstock of choice north of the Pyrenees and the Alps.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n Cold resistance<\/span>\n\n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Poncirus trifoliata, the genetic parent of hardy rootstocks, is one of the most cold-hardy species in the Citrus genus. Up to -18\u00b0C, even higher for some cultivars. He also passed on this genetic trait, to a greater or lesser extent, to his hybrids:<\/p>\n

-14\u00b0C for Citrumelo 4475 (Citrus paradisi x Poncirus trifoliata) <\/p>\n

-14\u00b0C for Citrange C35 (Citrus sinensis Ruby x Poncirus trifoliata)<\/p>\n

-15\u00b0C to -18\u00b0C for Carrizo (Citrus sinensis Washington x Poncirus trifoliata)<\/p>\n

-16\u00b0C for FornerAlcaide 5 (Citrus Reshni Cleopatra x Poncirus trifoliata)<\/p>\n

Citrus trees grafted on these species benefit from a cold-resistant root system.
The graft used must also be resistant to obtain a hardy tree.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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How to choose your rootstock on AlpAgrumi.ch<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The main thing to consider is the type of land and the quality of the soil.
Humus-rich (slightly acidic), calcareous (alkaline), clayey or sandy, draining soil. Your land may be<\/span>a mixture of these different soil types, sometimes just a few meters apart.<\/p>\n

Once you’ve decided where to plant, dig a small hole and test the soil at a depth of 10\/20 cm.
You can guess the type by looking at it and touching it.<\/p>\n

Humus mountain soil is dark, light and retains moisture.
The chalky soil is light and crumbly, sometimes dotted with small white pebbles.
Clay soil is heavy, sticky and often orange or yellow.
Sandy soil is heavy, granular, gray or shiny.<\/p>\n

You can also have your soil analyzed, which is now easy and affordable.<\/p>\n

Then consult the table below to choose the most suitable rootstock.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/em>
If your soil is calcareous: FA5<\/em>
If your soil is clayey: Carrizo or FA5<\/em>
If your soil sometimes floods: Citrumelo 4475 or FA5
If your soil is poorly drained (danger of fungus and nematodes): Citrumelo 4475 or C35<\/em>
If your soil is very draining and often dry: C35 or Citrumelo 4475<\/em>
If your soil is humus-rich: FA5, Citrumelo 4475, C35 or Carrizo (all suitable).<\/em><\/p>\n

If your soil is of good quality (humus-rich, mountainous), other criteria can guide your choice: tree size, fruit quality, early or late harvest.
For small gardens, note that FA5 rootstock reduces the size of the adult tree by 25% to 50%.
See the table of features further down this page.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Comparative rootstock resistance table:\nclimatic conditions, soil type, diseases and pests<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Rootstock<\/th>\n Cold<\/th>\n Salt<\/th>\n Limestone<\/th>\n Clay<\/th>\n Flooding<\/th>\n Drought
<\/th>\n 		Virus
Tristeza<\/th>\n 		Mushroom
Phytophtora<\/th>\n 		Nematode
roots <\/th>\n <\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Citrange C35<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n ++<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n ++<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Carrizo<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n ++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Citrumelo 4475<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n +++++<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
FA5<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n ++<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Poncirus<\/td>\n +++++<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Volkameriana<\/td>\n ++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n ++++<\/td>\n ++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Macrophylla<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +++++<\/td>\n ++<\/td>\n ++<\/td>\n +++<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n +++++<\/td>\n +<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Caption:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
+ Sensitive
++ Tolerant
+++ Resistant
++++ Highly resistant
+++++ Extremely resistant<\/h5>\n<\/p>\n

The rootstocks used for the trees for sale on this site are..:
Poncirus, FA5, Carrizo, Citrumelo Swingle 4475, Citrange C35 (all Poncirus hybrids).<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Table of rootstock characteristics<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Rootstock<\/th>\n Tree growth<\/th>\n Adult size
<\/th>\n 		Production start-up<\/th>\n Productivity<\/th>\n Fruit quality<\/th>\n Fruit size
<\/th>\n 		Harvest date
<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Citrange C35<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n High<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Carrizo<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n High<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Superior<\/td>\n Early<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Citrumelo 4475<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n High<\/td>\n Very good<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Late<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
FA5<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Reduced 25-50%.<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Very high<\/td>\n Very good<\/td>\n Superior<\/td>\n Early<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Poncirus<\/td>\n Slow<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Very slow<\/td>\n Average<\/td>\n Low\/Good<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Volkameriana<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Fast<\/td>\n Very high<\/td>\n Average<\/td>\n Very superior<\/td>\n Very early<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Macrophylla<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Fast<\/td>\n Very high<\/td>\n Average<\/td>\n Normal<\/td>\n Early<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Main sources<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Viveros Alcanar: https:\/\/www.viverosalcanar.com\/patrones\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Agrologica: https:\/\/blog.agrologica.es\/principales-patrones-portainjertos-en-citricos-naranjo-limonero-mandarino-caracteristicas-tabla\/<\/a>
<\/em><\/p>\n

Agromillora: https:\/\/www.agromillora.com\/es\/agromillora-portainjertos\/forner-alcaide-5\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Government of Western Australia: https:\/\/www.agric.wa.gov.au\/citrus\/citrus-rootstocks-western-australia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

CRB-INRA-CIRAD: https:\/\/lesjardiniersducentrecorse.files.wordpress.com\/2018\/01\/fiche-technique-porte-greffe-agrumes.pdf<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Generalitat Valenciana – IVIA: https:\/\/redivia.gva.es\/bitstream\/handle\/20.500.11939\/7797\/2000_Villalba_Patrones.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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* Note on Poncirus Trifoliata:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Opinions differ as to its effect on fruit quality.
While Spanish growers consider it weak for mandarins and oranges, Japanese growers have adopted Poncirus as rootstock for Satsumas.
See in particular this study: https:\/\/alpagrumi.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2023\/01\/20-4-253-259_0rootstocks-japan.pdf<\/a>
And yet, in terms of taste quality, it’s clear that Japanese citrus fruits are far superior to those mass-produced and exported from Spain throughout Europe.
While we respect the undeniable experience of our Spanish friends, we believe that Poncirus and Japanese citrus growers deserve the same respect.
The debate remains open…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is a rootstock? Almost all commercial fruit trees are grafted. They are in fact made up of two welded plants: – rootstock for the root system – the graft for the trunk and canopy You can see the grafting point on each tree: a stitch down the trunk, still visible even on mature trees. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1630,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-863","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpagrumi.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpagrumi.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpagrumi.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpagrumi.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1630"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpagrumi.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=863"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alpagrumi.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/863\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpagrumi.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}