Why do apple trees and citrus trees often need grafted rootstocks?
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Fruit farming
Gros Michel bananas.
In modern fruit farming, apple and citrus trees are typically composed of a scion (the upper part that produces fruit) grafted onto a rootstock. This practice is essential for several horticultural reasons:
- Growth Control: Rootstocks are used to regulate the size of the tree, such as producing dwarf trees or invigorating the growth of a specific cultivar. For example, specific clonal rootstocks for apples allow for a complete range of dwarfing, while certain citrange varieties can slightly dwarf citrus tops.12
- Adaptability and Hardiness: Grafting allows growers to adapt varieties to adverse soil or climatic conditions. Rootstocks can provide increased hardiness, such as the use of cold-hardy citrange hybrids for citrus trees in cooler regions.12
- Disease Resistance: Rootstocks are selected to strengthen a plant's resistance to specific plant diseases.12
- Retaining Characteristics: Grafting ensures that the resulting tree maintains the specific varietal characteristics of the scion, which is critical for consistent fruit production.1