Effects of Presence or Absence of Owhadi Interstock on the Growth and Yield of Ahmad-Aghaei Pistachio Cultivar

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Owhadi interstock on the growth and quantitative and qualitative indices in Ahmad Aghaie cultivar. This experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design for two years (2018-2019) in the pistachio orchard located in Nogh. The studied orchard was grafted in 2011. In this study, treatments included of 1) Badami Zarand /Ahmad-Aghaei cultivar (control) , 2)Badami Zarand /Owhadishort interstock (30 cm) / Ahmad-Aghaei cultivar, and 3) Badami Zarand +Owhadilong interstock (30 -60 cm) / Ahmad-Aghaei cultivar. The studied parameters included growth characteristics such as tree height, annual shoots growth (length and diameter), the diameter of the canopy, the trunk intermediate area of the interstock, the trunk area of 3 cm above and below the graft, and the number of vegetative and reproductive buds. Quantitative and qualitative yield such as the weight of fresh and dry yields, percent of blank and split nuts, and the number of nuts per ounce were measured. Finally, the quantitative data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software and the Tukey test. The results of the mean comparison showed that the lowest  and the highest of height were in control and long interstock treatments related to the height of short and long interstock, and increased 38 and 47%, respectively. But there wasn’t significant on the height of scion. Based on the results, the highest of the canopy diameter and the number of branching were observed in the control and short interstock treatment. The results of the mean comparison showed that the maximum net weight of fresh yields and ounce were observed in the control and short interstock treatments, and the minimum was in long interstock treatment, but the annual yield was affected by the cultivar. Overall, it can be concluded that the control and the short interstock treatments had the best in growth and yield factors compared to long interstock treatments.