Evaluating Budding Compatibility of Almond and Plum on Some Wild Species and Interspecific Hybrids of Almond

For successful establishment of an almond orchard, the choice of an appropriate rootstock has a great importance. Recently, wild almond species have been highly regarded because of high genetic diversity, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses as well as the ability to produce inter and intra specific hybrids. This research was carried out to investigate the graft compatibility and also the interaction of different rootstock-scion combinations including two ‘Non Pareil’ almond and ’Shablon’ plum as scion and nine different seedling rootstocks including domesticated and wild almond species as well as some of their inter specific hybrids, during two consecutive years (2016-2017). Measurement of vegetative growth parameters in two stages before budding showed that peach × almond hybrid rootstock had the highest growth rate. The highest and the lowest percentages of final budding success in both plum and almond scions were observed in bitter almond seedling rootstock (82.50 and 80.46%, respectively for plum and almond scion). This is the lowest rate of budding success in both scion cultivars were recorded in hybrid seedling rootstocks of peach × almond hybrid (14.66 and 36.60%, respectively for plum and almond scion). Considering the growth indices of scion cultivars after budding, P. dulcis × P. elaeagnifolia hybrid rootstocks and P. scoparia were the rootstocks having the highest and the lowest plant height and trunk diameters. The maximum and minimum amount of total chlorophyll were measured in peach × almond and P. elaeagnifolia × P. scoparia hybrid rootstocks, respectively. The absorption of all of measured elements (potassium, zinc, iron, and manganese), except phosphorus, were significantly affected by rootstocks. In general, investigated rootstocks especially hybrids had good compatibility with both plums and almonds. Due to the diversity of growth and physiological traits as well as the different ability to absorb nutrients, hybrid rootstocks can be considered as the potential rootstocks for almond and plum in different climatic and soil conditions.