Determination of the effect of rootstock sex on scion growth and development in pistachio (P. vera L.)

Pistachio is a dioecious species and effect of rootstock sex on scion is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to explain effect of rootstock sex on seedling growth and development in different pistachio cultivars. Open-pollinated nuts of eight pistachio cultivars were used as plant materials in this study. The seeds were germinated after stratification. The highest germination rate was in Siirt cultivar (%90.5) while the lowest was in Ashoury cultivar (%57.0). Gender of the seedlings were determined by DNA analysis. The length and width measurements of the seedlings were done in March, April, May and in June. The highest plant length and plant diameter were obtained from Ohadi cultivar as 44.49 cm and 3.97 mm, respectively. The highest plant diameter was measured in male seedlings of Halebi cultivar (4.06 mm), while the lowest plant diameter was obtained from female seedlings of Kırmızı cultivars (3.33 mm). The highest plant length was measured in female and male seedlings of Ohadi cultivar, while the lowest plant length was in female and male seedlings of Uzun cultivar. The average plant diameter of all female seedlings was 3.66 mm whereas it was 3.67 mm in male seedlings in this study. The average plant height of all female seedlings was 33.70 cm, while it was 34.74 cm in male seedlings. As a result, this study showed that there is no significant difference during the first-year growth and development between female and male seedlings in pistachio in the nursery.