Summary
Several thousand apple and pear seedlings of many progenies were studied in connection with their juvenile period (J.P.). The initially significant inverse relation between the vigour (stem diameter) and the J.P. of the seedlings became insignificant as the trees grew older, due to a retardation of growth occurring when the seedlings become generative. This relation can be used effectively in pre-selecting for vigour in the nursery. Cumulative yields were higher when the J.P. was shorter, but there was no evident link between the J.P. and annual yield in full bearing, that is to say, precocity and preductivity are not directly connected. Better growing conditions and pre-selection have shortened the mean progeny J.P. of either crop by three years since the 1950's. Generally, the pear seedlings appear to grow faster, to become generative slower and to yield lower than comparable apple seedlings. The mean J.P. of apple and pear progenies averaged 4.2 and 6.0 years respectively. The difference between apple and pear may be attributable to a greater selection pressure on both precocity and productivity with apple than with pear.
This possibly also led to a smaller tree in the productive phase on the assumption that tree size at first flowering-small at a short, large at a long J.P.-expresses reproductive efficiency and as such is reflected in the size of the adult tree.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Visser, T., 1964. Juvenile phase and growth of apple and pear seedlings. Euphytica 13: 119–129.
Visser, T., 1965. On the inheritance of the juvenile period in apple. Euphytica 14: 125–134.
Visser, T., 1970. The relation between growth, juvenile period and fruiting of apple seedlings and its use to improve breeding efficiency. Euphytica 19: 293–302.
Visser, T., 1971. Environmental and genetic factors influencing the juvenile period in apple. Proc. Angers Fruit Breeding Symposium, Sept. 1970. Stat. Rech. Fruit. Angers: 101–116.
Visser, T., 1976. A comparison of apple and pear seedlings with reference to the juvenile period-II. Mode of inheritance. Euphytica 25: 339–342.
Vries, D. P. de, 1976. Juvenility in Hybrid Tea-roses. Euphytica 25: 321–328.
Zimmerman, R. H., 1972. Juvenility and flowering in woody plants: a review. Hort. Science 7: 447–455.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Visser, T., Verhaegh, J.J. & de Vries, D.P. A comparison of apple and pear seedlings with reference to the juvenile period I. Seedling growth and yield. Euphytica 25, 343–351 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00041566
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00041566