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Multiple Rootstock
Technology
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The root
system is the basic foundation of plants. It consists of
a primary root used for anchorage and lateral roots with
hairs that absorb water and nutrients; and oxygen for
respiration.
Plant's
growth depends solely on root development, which
normally takes years before attaining productive or
fruiting stage. This growth phenomenon is generally
observed throughout the world especially in temperate
countries that have two dormant seasons, autumn and
winter.
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When the roots are injured or
diseased, there will be no growth. As the roots
grow, corresponding growth shall also be observed on
the upper portion of the plant. Therefore, if a
plant has more developed root system, its growth
will be accelerated, thus, enhance physiological
maturity and early fruiting.
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Multiple
rootstock or multi-root system is the growing of plants
with two or more rootstocks. Fruit exporting countries
like Taiwan, Thailand and Australia are practicing this
technique.
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Advantages of Multiple Rootstock
Technology
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1. Growth and development is
accelerated or double in comparison with single rootstock. Just as a man could
travel faster with two feet than one foot, a plant could grow faster with double
root systems.
2. The tree becomes more prolific
since it overcomes the biennial (alternate) fruiting habit. Remember that plants
like mango produces heavy fruiting only after every other year and if forced to
bear fruits by applying KNO3, the tree will have a short life span as proven by
what happen in Cebu, Zambales, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan.
3. The tree will have more root
system that is essential to absorb the nutrients (fertilizer) applied, thus
minimizing fertilizer losses due to evaporation and leaching.
4. The tree will also have better
root anchorage that enables the trees to resist strong winds and other adverse
conditions.
5. The gestation period (fruiting) of young trees is
shortened by one half of the normal waiting time. Physiological maturity is also
enhanced. A fiver-year-old triple rootstock is equivalent to 8-10 year-old fruit
tree that bears commercial fruits.
6. The tree will yield early,
therefore producing off-season quality fruits which command higher price. The
tree becomes non-seasonal due to its reinforced nature.
7. Plants shall have lesser mortality in the field and
have more uniform growth.
8. Faster propagation or reproduction of the desired
variety can be achieved.
9. Production or yield can be enhanced by up to 300%.
10. Plant's life span become longer which prolongs and
enhances productivity.
11. Imported varieties of seedlings like jackfruits and
guapple will become resistant to Phytophthora when double rootstocked with the
native variety. It has been observed that latexless jackfruit, guapple and other
imported varieties grown from seeds died of phytophthora after 4-6 years.
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