Rootstock

Rootstock also known as stock, is a plant or stump to which a graft is made. Especially, a plant grown from seed, or sometimes from a cutting, for the purpose of grafting a bud or scion of another variety onto it.

Overview

Rootstock is used in agriculture and horticulture for the propagation of commercial plants. It is beneficial for the plants as it provides resistance to pests and diseases, and helps in the overall growth and development of the plant. The choice of rootstock can have a major impact on the success of the grafting process.

Types of Rootstock

There are several types of rootstock, each with its own set of characteristics. Some of the common types include:

• Dwarfing rootstocks: These are used to reduce the size of the resulting plant, which can make the plant easier to harvest.

• Disease-resistant rootstocks: These are used to provide resistance to certain diseases, such as Phytophthora root rot or Apple scab.

• Vigorous rootstocks: These are used to increase the size and vigor of the plant, which can be beneficial in certain situations, such as when the plant is being grown in poor soil conditions.

Grafting

Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion while the lower part is called the rootstock. The success of this joining requires that the vascular tissues grow together and such joining is called inosculation.

See also

• Scion (grafting)
• Bud grafting
• Plant propagation
• Horticulture

References

Rootstock Resources
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