The dwarfing quince rootstock EMH is a breakthrough in the marketplace as it induces large fruit size in pear scions grafted or budded onto it. It has been released by HRI in collaboration with the HRI Apple & Pear Breeding Club and has also received funding from the department for the environment, food and rural affairs.
The development of the rootstock has taken 32 years and represents an alternative to Quince A and Quince C also bred by HRI East Malling as it provides higher yields than either for mature Concorde trees in UK trials.
'EMH should be of particular use to growers because large fruit can be produced on small trees,' said the club's project leader for EMH Kate Evans. 'Small trees are easier for growers to manage and the market demands large uniform fruits of high quality.' Conference and Comice have also been tested.
The breakthrough is particularly important given the phasing out of growth regulator chlormequat which is already banned in the UK as long-term residues of the chemical have persisted in fruit-tree wood. In the absence of other chemical alternatives, EMH should prove a major boon to the market.
'Plant material should be available in winter 2003,' said Dr Evans. 'It then takes three to four years after planting for small volumes of fruit to be produced.' Commercial volumes of fruit from the new rootstock are therefore likely by 2010.
The rootstock is licensed to club member Pépinières du Valois for the northern hemisphere excluding the UK, and Enza Tree Ltd for the southern hemisphere.
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