Effect of rootstock and interstock on plant vigour of pear

The present investigations on the effect of rootstock and interstock on plant vigour of pear were carried out at the experimental orchard of Department of Pomology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP during 2004 and 2005. It was randomized and quardately replicated with four rootstocks namely Kainth, Quince  A, Quince C and BA-29 which were grafted on five scions namely Flemish Beauty , Max Red Bartlett, Conference, Red Bartlett and Starkrimson with or without interstock (Beurre Hardy) thus making 40 combinations in all. The rooted suckers of rootstocks (Quince  A, BA-29 and Quince-C and seedling Kainth) were transplanted in the nursery beds during the second week of January 2004 and the observations were recorded during 2004 and 2005. The effect of different graft combinations on the plant height (T able 1) was almost similar during both the years. Scion Red Bartlett resulted in significant higher plant height (0.77 and 0.90 m) and Conference the least (0.71 and 0.82 m) during 2004 and 2005 respectively.  The interaction studies between scion x rootstock revealed that treatment combination Red Bartlett x Kainth exhibited higher height of 0.96 and 1.09 m in 2004 and 2005 respectively as compared to other combinations. In the rootstocks and interstocks interaction studies Kainth x without interstock exhibited higher height (1.01 and 1.19 m) and was statistically significant as compared to other treatments whereas least plant height was recorded under Quince  Aand BA-29 x without interstock (0.63 m each) in 2004 and (0.71m each) in 2005. The interaction among scion x rootstock x interstock revealed that Red Bartlett x Kainth x without interstock gave significantly more height (1.09 and 1.29 m) as compared to other combinations whereas the least increase in height was recorded under Conference x Quince-A and BA 29 without interstock (0.58 m) during 2004 and Conference x Quince-A/BA-29 x without interstock (0.65 m each) in 2005.