The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

Objective(s):
The objectives of this workshop are to review challanges and progress in tree rootstock development, discuss methods of rootstock evaluations, and discuss ways to overcome challanges. In addition breeding and evaluation of rootstocks for disease and abiotic stress resistance and tolerence, as well as absorption and translocation of nutrients, and root distribution in the soil will be covered.

There has been an ongoing need to develop new and improved rootstocks for horticultural crops.  There can be many reasons why rootstocks are preferred or even necessary over own-rooted plants, including dwarfing, pest and disease resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance (salinity, drought).  In this workshop we will look at the past and progress of developing rootstocks to meet these needs, as well as evaluation of rootstocks for nutrient uptake and translocation, and root distribution in the soil, as well as effects on the scion.  The many challenges in rootstock development and ways to overcome them will also be presented.  The workshop will give examples of the history and progress of breeding rootstocks from several horticultural tree crops, but will be applicable to multiple species.