2024 Volume 10 Pages 56-63
We investigated the graft compatibility, ceratocystis canker resistance, and cultivation characteristics in continuous cropping fig fields of by grafting ‘Toyomitsuhime’ fig onto ‘Reikodai 1 go’ (BC1 from interspecific hybridization of Ficus carica L. and F. erecta Thunb.) with true resistance to ceratocystis canker, and clarified the potential using ‘Reikodai 1 go’ as a rootstock. The survival rate of the scion was high when ‘Toyomitsuhime’ fig was grafted onto ‘Reikodai 1 go’ rootstock and was comparable to that of the scion when ‘Toyomitsuhime’ fig was grafted onto ‘Kibaru’ rootstock. The growth of ‘Reikodai 1 go’ seedlings was either comparable to or higher than that of ‘Kibaru’ seedlings, and the graft compatibility was high. ‘Reikodai 1 go’ seedlings of ‘Toyomitsuhime’ fig were not infected and had a higher ceratocystis canker resistance than ‘Kibaru’ seedlings when a suspension of ceratocystis canker spores was poured three times a year for three years into the soil of the cutting grafted seedlings planted in pots. The growth amount of the current shoots, yield, and fruit quality of ‘Reikodai 1 go’ grafted rootstock of ‘Toyomitsuhime’ fig planted in continuous cropping fig fields were higher than those of the own-root trees and comparable to those of the ‘Kibaru’ grafted rootstock. The grafting of ‘Toyomitsuhime’ fig onto ‘Reikodai 1 go’ rootstock is unlikely to cause problems in growth and fruit production, and has proven to be an effective means of avoiding Ceratocystis canker which is the most important disease in fig cultivation.
