Selection of Cultivar-rootstock Combinations of Diploid Plum (Prunus rossica Erem.) for Arid Conditions in Southern Russia

Abstract

Background: Plum diploid is a new species for the conditions of the Volgograd region of Russia, not previously grown. There are a large number of varieties and rootstocks that need to be studied in relation to new growing conditions. Methods: The research was carried out in 2020-2022. Drought resistance and heat resistance were determined by laboratory method. To account for these indicators, the water content of the leaf, the water deficit and the water-holding capacity of the leaves were determined. Productivity and fruit quality were determined by the weight method. Statistical analysis in the standard Microsoft Excel 2013 software package. Result: The study of the productivity of variety-rootstock combinations has shown that it is significantly influenced by, in addition to varietal characteristics, external environmental factors, also the rootstock on which the variety is grafted. The rootstock affects the strength of growth, the time of entry into fruiting, the quality characteristics of fruits, which significantly affects productivity. The highest productivity was observed in the Sarmatka variety on the VVA-1 rootstock (21.5 kg/tree), the smallest was the Kuban Comet on the cherry plum rootstock (10 kg/tree).