Budding success of Pistacia integerrima on different Pistacia rootstocks

Since pistachio trees are grown under extremely arid conditions in Turkey, the yield per tree is quite low. Pistachio culture in the coming years will be irrigated by water from the Southeast Anatolia Project. For that reason, suitable pistachio rootstocks for the area are needed. Seed orchards of P. integerrima, which has been proven to be tolerant to disease, cold and drought, are of great importance for the region. In this study, the suitable rootstocks and budding methods for propagation of P. integerrima nursery trees were investigated. P. integerrima had the best budding success rates, and gave more vigorous shoots than P. atlantica rootstocks. Chip budding was found to be the best budding method for propagation. At the nursery stage, it appeared that P. integerrima was more compatible with wild Pistacia rootstocks than with P. vera rootstocks. Also, it was concluded that by top budding wild pistachios grown in the region with P. integerrima scions, the seed production orchards could be established immediately.