The effects of different rootstocks on vegetative growth and fruit quality in the hafif çukurgobek loquat cultivar

The aim of the study is to determine the effects of different rootstocks on phenological characteristics, vegetative growth and fruit quality of the Hafif Çukurgöbek loquat cultivar. In the experiment, Hafif Çukurgöbek loquat cultivar budded on Quince-A, Quince-C, BA-29 quince clone rootstocks and hawthorn and loquat seedlings were used. In the study, the spacing of plants with rootstock BA-29, Quince-A, Quince-C and Hawthorn was 1.0 m x 0.5 m, while plants with loquat seedling rootstock was 1x1 m. Phenological observations, fruit pomological analysis, vegetative growth parameters and yield characteristics of the cultivar/rootstock combinations in the study were determined. In order to determine the fruit quality, 50 fruits were randomly picked from each cultivar/rootstock combination, and physical measurements and chemical analyzes were carried out with five replicates. In the study, BA-29 rootstock yielded the highest value (6.3 units) in terms of the number of harvested fruits. Fruit harvest was firstly realized on BA-29 and Quince-A rootstocks (on 17 May). The highest values in terms of fruit weight and fruit sizes were obtained from BA-29 rootstock (24.8 g, 35.5 mm and 37.6 mm, respectively), followed by Quince-A (23.5 g, 34.9 mm and 37.3 mm). In terms of flesh/seed ratio, the highest value (3.2) was obtained from Quince-A rootstock, while the lowest value (2.5) was obtained from loquat seedling rootstock. While the highest total soluble solids (TSS) value (11.3%) was obtained from loquat seedling rootstock, the lowest value (9.2%) was obtained from Quince-A rootstock. In terms of titratable total acidity, the highest value (0.51%) was obtained from BA-29 rootstock, while the lowest value (0.34%) was obtained from Quince-A rootstock. Rootstocks gave values close to each other in terms of "L" (brightness-dullness) and "b" (yellow-blue color) parameters of fruit skin and flesh color values. Differences between rootstocks in terms of "a" (red-green color) value were found to be statistically significant. In terms of annual shoot length, scion and rootstock diameter, the loquat seedlings (65 cm, 41.1 and 43.1 mm, respectively) gave the highest values, while the lowest values were given by Quince-A (47.6 cm, 27.0 mm and 34.4 mm) rootstock. In terms of yield per plant, loquat seedlings gave the highest value (1051 g), followed by BA-29 rootstock (955 g). The lowest yield value was obtained from Quince-A (587 g) rootstock. In terms of yield per trunk cross-sectional area, Quince-A (1.02 g) and BA-29 (0.99 g) gave the highest value, while Quince-C rootstock gave the lowest value (0.57 g). These differences between rootstocks were found to be statistically significant. According to the findings of our study, BA-29 rootstock were found to be more successful than other rootstocks in terms of earliness, yield and fruit quality. However, it is necessary to continue the work in order to make a definite judgement as to which rootstock is the most suitable.