INFLUENCE OF ROOTSTOCKS AND THE TIME OF GRAFTING PROCEDURE ON THE EFFICIENCY OF PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING TWO CULTIVARS OF MOUNTAIN PINE (Pinus mugo Turra) AND ESTIMATION OF CHLOROPLAST PIGMENTS LEVEL IN THE NEEDLES

Abstract

The experimental studies were conducted from 2015–2017 years in two cycles. The aim of the research was to determine a better grafting time and a choice of an appropriate rootstock for the propagation of two cultivars of mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra). The influence of the grafted cultivar and rootstock used on the level of chloroplast pigments in the needles was also checked. The studies concerned two cultivars of mountain pine (Pinus mugo) ‘Grześ’ and ‘Zundert’, which were grafted on four different rootstocks: Pinus contorta (Dougl. ex Loud.), Pinus nigra (Arn.), Pinus sylvestris (L.) and Pinus mugo subsp. uncinata (Ramond Domin) in two dates: 20 January and 15 March. The highest percentage of graft success was obtained for the two cultivars on Pinus uncinata and Pinus contorta rootstocks. A later term of grafting procedure affected bigger effectiveness of grafting of the two studied cultivars, except for the graft success on Pinus sylvestris rootstock. The highest increments of side shoots and lengths of main stems for ‘Grześ’ cultivar were obtained on Pinus nigra, and for ‘Zundert’ the influence of the rootstock on the above mentioned parameters was not evident. No significant differences in the number of increments in the first and second year of studies were observed. The highest level of chlorophyll A and B was found in the needles of ‘Grześ’ cultivar, independently from the rootstock used. Among tested rootstocks, only Pinus nigra had a significant impact on a higher content of chlorophyll B in the needles of the studied cultivars of mountain pine trees.