Effect of Different Clonal Rootstocks on Plant Nutrient Content in Leaves of Some Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) Cultivars

Abstract

Rootstocks are commonly used in modern fruit nursery practices due to their distinctive features. In addition to eliminating the limiting factors in fruit growing, rootstocks have benefits such as increasing productivity, fruit quality, dwarfness and increasing the efficiency of nutrients. This study was carried out to determine the effects of apricot varieties (‘Mikado’, ‘Mogador’ and ‘Flopria’) from Prunus species which have earliness, on leaf micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B) and macronutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg and Na). A total of 17 rootstocks belonging to Prunus cerasifera, P. domestica and P. persica species were used as study material. The effect of rootstock–cultivar combinations on nutrients (except P and Na) was determined to be statistically significant. The effect of each rootstock on plant nutrients was different. It has been determined that there is a positive correlation between micro- and macronutrients. In the study, the highest macro-element content in cultivars was determined in KL-45 for P (0.45) and Ca (1.90) element, KL-21 for K (4.53) and Mg (0.70) element. As a result, it is suggested that KL rootstocks can be used as rootstocks in modern apricot cultivation.