Cultivar–Rootstock Combinations for Unirrigated Pistachio in Turkey

Abstract

Trials were carried out between 1975–2001 to determine the best cultivar– rootstock combination of pistachio for arid conditions at The Pistachio Research Institute’s experiment areas in Gaziantep. Five standard pistachio cultivars (‘Siirt’, ‘Kirmizi’, ‘Halebi’, ‘Uzun’, and ‘Ohadi’) were budded on three different rootstock species (Pistacia khinjuk Stocks, P. atlantica Desf. and P. vera L.). Experimental orchard was established at 2 × 2 m in spacing in 1976 but spacing was changed to 2 × 4 m in 1995. Based on tree growth, bearing, yield and some quality characteristics of rootstock and cultivar combinations ‘Siirt’ P. khinjuk was determined as the best rootstock and cultivar combination for arid areas.