Rootstock and Fruit set

General Fruit Growing
1

is there a link between rootstock and fruit set, Since I have read somewhere an article in which one describes Japanese plum can grow on a euro rootstock in my case St.Julian A , but forms no fruits…

Since my Satsuma though start fruit setting after a short time all of the fruits where aborting
Can this really be a result of a wrong rootstock choice ? How do you guys think about this?

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Thanks
alcedo

2

I’ve never heard that and would have to see it myself to believe. Or at least have a reliable report. Lack of pollination or freeze damage is a much more likely cause for lack of fruit set. That’s why I’d need someone I could trust and appropriate controls to believe that could happen.

3

I was equally surprised when reading this article

What scions and base plants are compatible? 
Selecting the right rootstock can be complicated. Generally it is best to graft to the same species, but to control size and solve soil problems, others are used. Some scions may graft successfully and grow for a while but not bear fruit (e.g. peaches, almonds and apricots on Japanese and European plums, etc.). Consult experts if in doubt. See chart on CRFG Golden Gate website.

Source : http://www.crfg.org/chapters/golden_gate/Grafting%20HO%2005%20MG%2021.pdf

Anyway, probably a non scientific source my guess.

fruinut Thanks for all your contribution on this ’ friendly ’ and educational forum.

4

I am very interested in the answers of this post. One of my friends has a 4-in-1 J. plum tree abort all fruits before the fruits get big. This tree was from reputable nursery either raintree or one green world 7-8 years ago. We were trying to find the problem…should not be the pollination issue, there are 4 different types blooming at the same time, lot of flowers; if it is because the tree has too much vegetated grow, it should still set few fruits; Maybe, it is the root stock issue?

5

They don’t sell trees on rootstocks that would cause fruit abortion. Thousands of other trees on the same stock are bearing fine. It has to be something else.

6

Stress and other environmental factors can cause excessive fruit drop. I learned a valuable lesson about proper application of pesticide last year. I had sprayed my fruit trees with Bonide Fruit Tree Spray and had a little extra chemical left in the tank so I went ahead and sprayed the last tree extra heavy, I did’t want chemical to go to waste. A few days later some of the leaves had developed a rusty color and the tree aborted nearly all of it’s apples.
I’m not suggesting your friend is over using chemicals, just that a stressed fruit tree may abort it’s fruit. Stress may even come from too much or too little water.

7

Fruitnut, Agree. It is very unlikely. but I look at the fact every year and run out of explanations.
Maybe , when the time comes, I will take a picture of the tree and fruits size and post it here. Hope everyone can help me find an answer to it.

8

I don’t think chemical was used, but fertilizer 10-10-10 was used every spring.