Evaluation of pear (Pyrus communis) sucker for different root stock characters

A study was conducted during 2002-06 to standardize selection of mother tree and to identify composite mother trees with desirable parameters for sucker selection of pear (Pyrus communis L.). Thorny- and spreading-type suckers were of dwarf stature with less internodal length, while thorn density was more in erect growing sucker. 'William Bartlett' cultivar when budded on V ₁₅ sucker showed good physical graft compatibility (least variance 0.91), followed by 'Vicar of Winkfield' on V ₃₃ suckers (1.13 variance). Significantly maximum fruiting spurs/plant (6.30) was observed in 'William Bartlett' on V ₁₁ and least (1.30) on 'Kainth'. However, 'William Bartlett' when budded on V ₁₁ sucker gave the maximum (43%) plants in fruiting and 'Vicar of Winkfield' when was raised on 'Kainth' the least (23%) plants in fruiting.