This collection considers the ways in which rootstock health can be optimised to improve agricultural production and fruit quality. Chapters consider recent advances in the development and utilisation of fruit tree rootstocks and how they can be used to mitigate the effects of abiotic stresses.
This collection features five peer-reviewed reviews on optimising rootstock health.
The first chapter explores optimising rootstock health to improve root function, resource-use efficiency, sustainability and agricultural productivity. The chapter also presents a case study on tomato rootstocks as a viable strategy to overcome abiotic stresses in Ghana.
The second chapter reviews the important aspects of tree growth and development in apple production which are integral to ensure product quality. The chapter discusses the importance of rootstocks and emphasises the mechanisms and morphological effects of dwarfing on rootstocks.
The third chapter considers recent advances in the development and utilisation of fruit tree rootstocks, focussing primarily on apples. The chapter also reviews rootstock tolerance to both abiotic and biotic stresses.
The fourth chapter discusses advances in avocado tissue culture for clonal propagation and highlights the potential of this technology for improving the sustainable supply of high-quality avocado plants to support future avocado industry growth.
The final chapter addresses the challenges and opportunities in pear breeding, focussing on pear cultivars, pear rootstocks and germplasm resources. The chapter also considers the use of dwarfing as a means of improving particular traits.
Chapter 1 - Rootstocks to improve root function and resource-use
efficiency: Francisco Pérez-Alfocea, CEBAS-CSIC, Spain; Stephen Yeboah,
CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Ghana; and Ian C. Dodd, Lancaster Environment
Centre, UK; 1 Introduction2 Nutrient relations3 Water relations4
Phytohormones5 Case study: Tomato rootstocks as a viable strategy to overcome
abiotic stresses in Ghana6 Conclusion7 Future trends8 Where to look for
further information9 Acknowledgements10 References
Chapter 2 - Advances in understanding apple tree growth: rootstocks and
planting systems: Dugald Close, University of Tasmania, Australia; 1
Introduction2 Tree growth and the development and propagation of apple3
Dwarfing rootstocks: history of selection and key morphological effects4
Dwarfing rootstocks: mechanisms and example application5 An introduction to
manipulating tree growth and development6 Planting systems7 Summary8 Future
trends in research9 Where to look for further information10
Acknowledgements11 References
Chapter 3 - Advances in the development and utilization of fruit tree
rootstocks: a case study for apple: Gennaro Fazio, USDA-ARS Plant Genetics
Resources Unit, USA; and Terence Robinson, Cornell University, USA; 1 What
are rootstocks?2 History and modern use of clonal rootstocks in apple3
Rootstock improvement efforts4 Rootstock propagation5 Rootstock evaluation6
Rootstock effects on scion traits and mechanisms7 Rootstock tolerance to
abiotic and biotic stresses8 Trends in apple (and other tree fruit) rootstock
use9 Future trends in apple rootstocks10 References
Chapter 4 - Advances in avocado propagation for the sustainable supply of
planting materials: Jayeni Hiti-Bandaralage, Alice Hayward, Chris OBrien,
Madeleine Gleeson, William Nak and Neena Mitter, The University of
Queensland, Australia; 1 Introduction2 Avocado cultivation3 The problem of
clonal avocado propagation4 Tissue culture for plant propagation5 Tissue
culture as a sustainable alternative for avocado propagation6 Advances in
micropropagation of avocado7 Meristem culture for the future of sustainable
avocado propagation8 Micrografting for complete field-ready disease-free
planting material9 Conclusion10 Where to look for further information11
References
Chapter 5 - Challenges and opportunities in pear breeding: Danielle Guzman
and Amit Dhingra, Washington State University, USA; 1 Introduction2 Pear
cultivars3 Pear rootstocks4 Germplasm resources5 Pear breeding techniques6
Improving particular traits7 Future trends8 Where to look for further
information9 References
