Method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruits

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit. The method comprises grafting a first scion onto a base stock to obtain an interstock; then grafting a second scion onto the interstock to obtain a graft combination; the fruit ripening period of the graft combination is altered compared to the fruit ripening period when the second scion is directly grafted onto the base stock; wherein the first scion is a bud from the interstock, and the variety of the interstock donor is any one of the apricot varieties ZS001, PT56, PT3, Zhongren No. 5, Golden Sun, Dwarf Mountain Apricot, and the apricot and plum variety Flavor Rose; and the second scion is a bud from an apricot or apricot plum variety different from the first scion. The present invention provides a variety of scion, interstock, and base stock combinations, as well as detailed grafting steps and conditions, effectively solving the problem of volatility caused by the concentrated supply period and short shelf life of apricot fruit in the market, enriching the time to market for apricot fruit, and improving the economic value and market competitiveness of the fruit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of fruit tree cultivation, in particular to a method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruits. Background Art

[0002] In the field of fruit tree genetics and breeding, precise regulation of apricot fruit ripening has become a key strategy for optimizing fresh fruit market supply and enhancing its economic value and market competitiveness. Existing technologies have demonstrated that breeding apricot varieties with different ripening characteristics can significantly enrich the distribution of market supply. Specifically, the development of early-maturing apricot varieties has effectively filled the gap in the fruit market from late spring to early summer (Yan Xiao, 2008). This not only advances the time of market entry for apricots but also demonstrates significant economic potential and market influence by regulating the fresh fruit supply in early summer (Chai Juhua et al., 2002). Furthermore, the development of late-maturing apricot varieties further extends the market supply cycle, ensuring a continuous and stable supply of fruit.

[0003] It is noteworthy that the unique market positioning of early-maturing apricot varieties, situated between very early and medium-maturing varieties, not only effectively fills the gap between the two but also enhances the market competitiveness of apricots across different seasons, enriching consumer choices and increasing market diversity (Xue Xiaomin, 2010). Therefore, comprehensively considering and optimizing breeding strategies for apricot varieties at various maturity stages is of far-reaching significance for building a more comprehensive market supply chain and enhancing the overall commercial value of apricots.

[0004] Although my country, a major apricot producer with a long history of cultivation and abundant germplasm resources, is limited by the late start of breeding and the long breeding cycle, the current diversity and market adaptability of apricot varieties still need to be improved. Specifically, mid-ripening apricot varieties dominate the market, while very early and early-maturing varieties are scarce. Furthermore, the short shelf life of apricot fruit, a climacteric fruit, exacerbates market supply volatility (Du Zhilei, 2023). Furthermore, mid-ripening varieties face intense competition from other fruits during their market launch, and traditional consumer habits limit further growth in their consumption (Shi et al., 2022). Therefore, strengthening the research and development of breeding technologies for very early and late-maturing high-quality apricot varieties is crucial for extending the supply period and stabilizing market prices.

[0005] Grafting, as a highly effective means of variety improvement, has been widely used in fruit cultivation, significantly improving fruit yield, quality, and stress resistance by shortening the scion growth cycle and regulating phenological periods. As the native habitat of apricot trees, my country's abundant germplasm resources provide a solid foundation for rootstock selection and breeding. However, issues such as susceptibility to frost damage during flowering and high sterility rates, as well as the relatively concentrated maturity period of apricot varieties, continue to pose challenges to the development of the apricot industry. Given the relatively late start of apricot rootstock research in my country, the lack of clear rootstock species and inconsistent quality in production urgently need to be addressed. Therefore, in-depth research on apricot rootstock / scion combinations and the selection of superior combinations that meet specific breeding objectives (such as regulating flowering time, improving fertility, optimizing maturity, and increasing yield and quality) is of immeasurable value in promoting technological advancement and sustainable development in the apricot industry. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To this end, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit using an interstock. The present invention provides various combinations of scions, interstocks, and base stocks, as well as detailed grafting procedures and conditions. This provides a new technical solution for fruit tree cultivation, effectively resolving the market volatility caused by the concentrated supply period and short shelf life of apricot fruit, broadening the time it takes for apricot fruit to be put on the market and enhancing the fruit's economic value and market competitiveness.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0008] A method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit comprises grafting a first scion onto a base stock to obtain an intermediate stock; and then grafting a second scion onto the intermediate stock to obtain a grafted combination;

[0009] The first scion is a bud from an intermediate stock, where the intermediate stock is any of the apricot varieties ZS001, PT56, PT3, Zhongren No. 5, Golden Sun, dwarf mountain apricot, and apricot-plum variety Flavor Rose. The second scion is a bud from an apricot or apricot-plum variety different from the first scion. When the bud directly grafted onto the base stock is an apricot bud, the apricot variety is used as the base stock; when the bud directly grafted onto the base stock is an apricot-plum bud, the plum is used as the base stock. When ZS001, PT56, and PT3 are used as intermediate stocks, the fruit on the second scion matures earlier than when the second scion is directly grafted onto the base stock. When Zhongren No. 5, Golden Sun, dwarf mountain apricot, and Flavor Rose are used as intermediate stocks, the fruit on the second scion matures later than when the second scion is directly grafted onto the base stock. Most apricots and plums are cultivated by grafting. When choosing the base stock for grafting, the variety of the base stock should be determined according to the variety of the scion directly grafted onto the base stock to prevent grafting incompatibility caused by the base stock and the scion variety being too distantly related.

[0010] In the above-mentioned method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruits, when the buds of apricot varieties are directly grafted onto the base stock, the base stock is apricot variety PT47.

[0011] The above-mentioned method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit, which is used to advance the ripening period of the fruit of the grafted combination compared to the ripening period of the fruit when the second scion is directly grafted onto the base stock, is any combination of the following:

[0012] The second scion is the apricot plum variety Dinosaur Egg, the first scion is ZS001, and the stock is PT47;

[0013] The second scion is the apricot variety Longwangmao, the first scion is PT56, and the stock is PT47;

[0014] The second scion is the apricot variety Longwangmao, the first scion is PT3, and the stock is PT47;

[0015] The second scion is the apricot variety Youyi, the first scion is PT56, and the rootstock is PT47;

[0016] The second scion is the apricot variety Youyi, the first scion is PT3, and the rootstock is PT47.

[0017] The above-mentioned method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit, which is used to delay the ripening period of the fruit of the grafted combination compared to the ripening period of the fruit when the second scion is directly grafted onto the base stock, is any combination of the following:

[0018] The second scion is the dwarf apricot variety, the first scion is Zhongren No. 5, and the rootstock is PT47;

[0019] The second scion is the apricot variety dwarf wild apricot, the first scion is flavor rose, and the base stock is plum;

[0020] The second scion is the apricot variety Luntai No. 9, the first scion is Golden Sun, and the rootstock is PT47;

[0021] The second scion was the apricot variety Zhongren No. 5, the first scion was the dwarf wild apricot, and the rootstock was PT47.

[0022] Even if the apricot varieties making up the grafted combination are exactly the same, different interstock selections will significantly affect the effectiveness of regulating fruit ripening. This means that earlier or later fruit ripening is not simply the result of a simple "neutralization" of the early or late maturing characteristics of the interstock and second scion varieties.

[0023] The above-mentioned method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit comprises the following steps:

[0024] S1. Stockstock selection: Select healthy apricot seedlings or plum seedlings as stockstocks;

[0025] S2. First grafting: collecting budded branches from the apricot, plum, or almond tree serving as the interstock donor during the dormant period or in summer; taking the first scion from the collected budded branches and grafting the first scion onto the base stock;

[0026] S3, cutting the stock and removing the buds: After the wound of the first graft is healed, cutting the stock and removing the buds, and applying a healing agent to the wound of the cutting stock. After the first scion survives, the intermediate stock is obtained;

[0027] S4. Second grafting: Collect the second scion and graft it onto the middle stock in the spring or summer of the year following the first grafting. After the second scion survives, a grafted combination is obtained.

[0028] Dormancy refers to November to February of the following year, when the bud growth of apricot or apricot plum stops and vital activity is weak. The scion collected during the winter dormancy period can be wax-sealed and preserved for a long time. The scion can be transported to some places where the scion cannot be collected at low temperatures, to carry out seedling expansion. In addition, the scion collected during the winter dormancy period can also be avoided from summer grafting because the new shoot growth of the scion mother tree is small and the maturity is poor. The full bud that can be used as grafting is few, and grafting requirements can not be met, and the generation of grafting problems can not be carried out. The scion is collected in the summer and used as it is, and the storage time is short, which avoids the problem that the storage time is too long and causes the scion vitality to decline, reduces storage cost and difficulty, and improves grafting survival rate. The scion collected in the summer can also be carried out in spring grafting, that is, when the spring grafting is not alive, grafting can also be carried out again in the summer.

[0029] In the above-mentioned method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit, in step S1, the selected stock has a base diameter of 0.6 to 1.0 cm. If the base diameter is less than 0.6 cm, the first scion may suffer from insufficient nutrient supply, prone to water loss, and poor stress resistance. If the base diameter is greater than 1.0 cm, the grafting wound may heal poorly, reducing the graft survival rate.

[0030] In the above-mentioned method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit, in step S2, when collecting budded branches during the dormant period, the thickness of the buds on the budded branches is 0.8 to 1.0 cm, and the budded branches are one-year-old branches; when collecting budded branches in summer, the thickness of the buds on the budded branches is 0.6 to 1.0 cm, and the budded branches are branches of the current year. The thickness of the bud is closely related to its growth potential. If the thickness of the bud is not within the appropriate range, it may lead to uncoordinated growth of the grafted seedlings, which is manifested as a significant difference in growth rate between the scion and the rootstock, thereby affecting the overall growth and yield.

[0031] In the above-mentioned method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruits, in step S2, for branches with buds collected during the dormant period, a first scion is taken in the first spring after collection and grafted; for branches with buds collected in the summer, a first scion is taken in the summer of the year of collection and grafted;

[0032] In spring grafting, grafting should be carried out when the average daily temperature is greater than or equal to 8°C for 10 consecutive days from late February to late March; the grafting method is chip bud grafting, cleft grafting or tongue grafting;

[0033] When grafting in summer, it should be carried out when the average daily temperature is within the range of 20-25℃ for 10 consecutive days from late May to mid-June; when grafting, the first scion is grafted to the branch on the sunny side of the base stock by bud grafting.

[0034] The above-mentioned method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit, in step S3, when cutting the stock, the stock is cut 1 centimeter above the grafting wound. When the stock is cut too close to the grafting wound, the scion may dry out and die. The stock is cut too high, and when there are too many stockpiles, healing may be affected, forming dead stubble. The stock position will sprout new branches and buds, which need to be removed in time, otherwise the top growth advantage of the scion will be weakened, and even the sprouting new shoots will grow faster than the scion, which will increase the cultivation cost and affect the growth of the scion.

[0035] In the above-mentioned method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit, in step S4, when grafting in spring, grafting is performed when the average daily temperature is greater than or equal to 8°C for 10 consecutive days from late February to late March; when grafting in summer, grafting is performed when the average daily temperature is within the range of 20-25°C for 10 consecutive days from late May to mid-June; when grafting in spring, grafting is performed by chip budding, cleft grafting, or tongue grafting; when grafting in summer, bud grafting is performed to graft the second scion onto the branch on the sunny side of the interstock. Excessively high or low ambient temperatures during grafting will inhibit callus formation, thereby affecting the grafting survival rate.

[0036] Grafting in spring is best done by budding, cleft grafting, or tongue grafting. In summer, budding is preferred because spring is the peak growth period for fruit trees and the prime time for grafting. The sap of the stock and scion begins to flow, and cell division and proliferation accelerate. Grafting at this time facilitates wound healing and increases survival rates. Chip budding, cleft grafting, or tongue grafting are suitable for spring, when both the scion and stock are still attached to the bark and the tissues of the stock and scion are well-developed. The key to grafting is a tight bond between the scion and stock at the cambium. Summer is peak growth season for fruit trees, when both the stock and scion are rich in nutrients and have high cell activity, leading to faster wound healing. Therefore, budding is generally used in summer because both the scion and stock can be removed from the bark, the bud site is easy to select, the cambium is active, the grafting tissue is well-developed, the grafting is quick and easy, and the survival rate is high. Bud grafting has a fast reproduction coefficient and saves scion. Bud grafting should be carried out when the plant is actively growing and the cambium cells are rapidly dividing.

[0037] The technical solution of the present invention achieves the following beneficial technical effects:

[0038] 1. The present invention provides an innovative method for regulating the maturity of apricot fruit. Through interstock grafting, this method not only precisely regulates the time of market release for apricot fruit, but also prevents trait segregation, trait variation, and unstable early and late maturation characteristics that can occur when the scion and stock are distantly related and directly grafted onto the stock. Apricot fruit produced using this method effectively fills a market gap and enhances the economic value and market competitiveness of apricot fruit.

[0039] 2. The method provided in the present invention not only enriches the time distribution of market supply, but also overcomes the problems of long traditional breeding cycles and single varieties. More importantly, the grafting combination of the present invention can maintain the original excellent traits of the fruit while significantly changing its maturity period, allowing fruit farmers to flexibly adjust their planting strategies according to market demand. In addition, the method of the present invention is simple to operate and easy to promote, which is of great significance for optimizing the apricot industry structure and stabilizing market prices. Through the application of this technology, the overall commercial value of apricots can be significantly improved, bringing greater economic benefits to fruit farmers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of fruit ripening time of each grafting combination and the control group in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 2 Photos of mature fruits of the three grafting combinations in the examples of the present invention and some control groups;

[0042] Figure 3 Photos of mature fruits of the four grafting combinations in the examples of the present invention and some control groups;

[0043] Figure 4 Photos of mature fruits of two grafting combinations in the examples of the present invention and some control groups. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The test site in this embodiment is located at the Mengzhou Experimental Base of the Economic Forest Research and Development Center of the Chinese Academy of Forestry in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province (34.86°N, 112.72°E), which is located in a warm temperate continental monsoon climate zone. The region has distinct four seasons, an average annual sunshine duration of 2160.4 h, an average annual temperature of 14.2°C, an average annual precipitation of 586.9 mm, and a frost-free period of 209 days.

[0045] In the trial planting experiment, 6 types of second scion (main planting varieties) materials were selected, namely:

[0046] Apricot: Dwarf wild apricot, Luntai No. 9, Zhongren No. 5, Youyi and Longwangmao;

[0047] Apricot and plum: dinosaur eggs.

[0048] There are seven types of apricot trees or apricot plums that serve as interstock donors (first scion donors), namely:

[0049] Early-ripening apricot plum: flavor rose;

[0050] Early-maturing apricots: Golden Sun, Dwarf Apricot, and ZS001;

[0051] Medium-ripe apricot: medium-ripe apricot No. 5;

[0052] Late-ripening apricots: PT56 and PT3.

[0053] During grafting, a first scion is grafted onto a base stock to obtain an intermediate stock, and then a second scion is grafted onto the intermediate stock to obtain a grafted combination. If the first scion is of apricot variety, the base stock is a wild apricot seedling PT47 (belonging to apricot germplasm resources) of the same family; if the first scion is of apricot plum variety, the base stock is a plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.). PT47 and plum have the same maturity period, that is, in this embodiment, the type of base stock does not affect the comparison results of the maturity period of the fruit.

[0054] The stock / scion combinations (second scion / first scion / base stock) were as follows: Dwarf Apricot / Flavor Rose / Plum, Luntai No. 9 / Golden Sun / PT47, Zhongren No. 5 / Dwarf Apricot / PT47, Dragon Egg / ZS001 / PT47, Dwarf Apricot / Zhongren No. 5 / PT47, Longwangmao / PT56 / PT47, Youyi / PT56 / PT47, Longwangmao / PT3 / PT47, and Youyi / PT3 / PT47. These stock / scion combinations were top-grafted in 2020, with three replicates per combination, consistent cultivation and management practices, and row spacing of 3 m × 4 m. A control group consisted of apricot varieties grafted onto Apricot PT47 and apricot-plum varieties grafted onto plum (see Table 1 for the stock / scion combinations for the control groups).

[0055] The specific grafting method is as follows:

[0056] (1) Rootstock selection: Select healthy and strong wild apricot PT47 or plum as the basic rootstock.

[0057] (2) First grafting: During the dormant period or summer, cut thick branches with full buds (i.e., branches with buds) from the apricot or apricot tree mentioned above as the intermediate rootstock donor. Take the buds from the branches with buds as the first scion, and graft the first scion onto the base rootstock. Depending on the grafting method, the amount of wood carried by the bud as the first scion can also be adjusted. For branches with buds collected during the dormant period, take the first scion and graft in the first spring after collection; for branches with buds collected in the summer, take the first scion and graft in the summer of the year of collection.

[0058] (3) Pruning the rootstock and removing buds: After the grafting wound has healed (about 7 days), the rootstock is pruned (the rootstock is pruned about 1 cm above the grafting wound, and the branches above the rootstock are removed) and buds are removed (i.e., new buds growing around the grafting wound are removed). A healing agent (commercially available tree wound healing agent) is applied to the rootstock wound. After successful grafting (i.e., the first scion survives), seedlings of seven types of intermediate rootstocks are obtained.

[0059] (4) Second grafting: Cut bud-bearing branches with full buds from the main cultivated varieties of apricot or plum trees, and take buds from the bud-bearing branches as the second scion (the amount of wood in the removed buds can be adjusted according to the different grafting methods). In the spring or summer of the following year after the first grafting, the second scion is grafted onto the seedlings of the above-mentioned 7 intermediate rootstocks. After successful grafting, the rootstock-scion combination (grafting combination) shown in the experimental group in Table 1 is obtained.

[0060] The control group was grafted in the same manner as described above, except that only one grafting was performed (i.e., no intermediate stock was used; the stock / scion combination for the control group in Table 1 corresponds to "second scion / base stock"). For both the experimental and control groups, when the scion directly grafted onto the base stock was an apricot variety, the apricot variety was used as the base stock; when the scion directly grafted onto the base stock was an apricot or plum variety, the plum variety was used as the base stock.

[0061] Table 1 Stockstock-scion combination information

[0062]

[0063]

[0064] When selecting the basic rootstock (base rootstock), you should pay attention to selecting the wild apricot seedlings PT47 or plum with a ground diameter of 0.6 to 1.0 cm, strong growth and no diseases and insect pests as the basic rootstock.

[0065] Using an intermediate stock avoids the problems of trait segregation, trait variation, and unstable early and late maturation characteristics that can occur when the main variety (i.e., the variety of the second scion) is distantly related to the base stock. Furthermore, using a scion and base stock combination of "apricot / apricot" or "apricot-plum / plum" can improve the survival rate of scions directly grafted onto the base stock.

[0066] When collecting scions, the method of collecting scions varies depending on the grafting season. When grafting scions in spring, it is necessary to cut one-year-old branches with full buds and a diameter of 0.8 to 1.0 cm (i.e., branches with buds) from the tree that will serve as the scion donor during the dormant period (usually November to February of the following year). The cut ends are sealed with wax, completely wrapped with mulch or plastic film, and stored in a cold storage at 2 to 5°C. When grafting in spring, buds are taken from the branches with buds to serve as scions. When grafting scions in the summer, water the donor tree two days before harvesting to promote scion shedding. Between 6:00 and 8:00 AM, cut current-year branches (bud-bearing branches) with full buds, no pests or diseases, and a diameter of 0.6 to 1.0 cm from the donor tree. Remove the leaves, wrap them in a damp towel, and place them in a cold storage. Within a week, buds should be harvested from these current-year branches as scions. This method is used for both the first and second scions.

[0067] First, graft the scion (first scion) of the intermediate stock variety onto the base stock. When grafting in spring, it should be done when the average daily temperature is stable at 8°C or above from late February to late March (meaning that the average daily temperature for 10 consecutive days is greater than or equal to 8°C). When grafting, use budding, cleft grafting or tongue grafting to graft the bud of the intermediate stock variety as the first scion onto the base stock. Three days before grafting, water the base stock once. When grafting, pay attention to smooth interfaces, tight alignment of the cambium, firm bundling, and sealing of the grafting interface. When grafting in summer, it should be grafted by budding on sunny days from late May to mid-June when the average daily temperature is stable at 20-25°C (meaning that the average daily temperature for 10 consecutive days is within the range of 20-25°C). Water the base stock once 5-7 days before grafting. When grafting the second scion onto the intermediate stock, the grafting method is the same.

[0068] The specific method for bud grafting is as follows: Cut a bud piece 3-4 cm long and 0.8-1 cm wide from the budded branch, cutting down to the wood and removing it. Select a healthy branch on the sun-facing side of the stock, and cut off a section of epidermis similar in size to the bud piece at the upper middle of the branch. Place the bud piece into the cut, keeping one side (left or right) and the lower part of the bud piece tightly against the stock. Wrap it with film to seal it, leaving the bud exposed. The same method is used when grafting the second scion onto the interstock.

[0069] After successful grafting, the plants were cultivated in open fields until the fruits were harvested. The maturity period of the fruits was analyzed.

[0070] like Figure 1 Shown are the results of a survey on the fruit maturity period of various stock and scion combinations. As can be seen from the figure, when buds of apricot varieties ZS001, PT56, and PT3 were used as the first scion for grafting, the fruits of the second scion grafted onto them showed significant early maturity characteristics. Compared with when the second scion was directly grafted onto the base stock, using ZS001, PT56, and PT3 as the intermediate stock can make the fruits of the second scion mature 4 or 7 days earlier. For example, the combination "Dinosaur Egg / ZS001 / PT47" had the most significant effect on early fruit maturity in the experimental group, maturing 7 days earlier than the control "Dinosaur Egg / Plum". As for the grafting combinations "Longwangmao / PT56 / PT47" and "Longwangmao / PT3 / PT47", both matured 4 days earlier than the "Longwangmao / PT47" in the control group. "Youyi / PT56 / PT47" and "Youyi / PT3 / PT47" also matured 4 days earlier than "Youyi / PT47" in the control group.

[0071] It's worth noting that PT3 and PT56 are late-maturing wild apricot varieties, and Youyi and Longwangmao are both late-maturing kernel apricot varieties. When using wild apricot PT47 as the base stock, PT3 and PT56 as the intermediate stock, and buds from Youyi and Longwangmao as the secondary scion, the fruit matures earlier than when Youyi or Longwangmao is directly grafted onto PT74, and also earlier than when PT3 or PT56 is grafted onto PT47. In other words, the four grafting schemes of "Longwangmao / PT56 / PT47," "Longwangmao / PT3 / PT47," "Youyi / PT56 / PT47," and "Youyi / PT3 / PT47" achieve a "negative-negative-positive" effect.

[0072] Furthermore, among all experimental groups, the "Dwarf Apricot / Zhongren 5 / PT47" graft showed the most significant delay in fruit maturity, maturing 6 days later than the control "Dwarf Apricot / PT47." Notably, when Zhongren 5 was used as the primary cultivar (second scion) and dwarf apricot as the interstock, the fruit maturity of Zhongren 5 was delayed by one day compared to the control "Zhongren 5 / PT47." A comparison of the fruit maturity of the grafted combinations "Dwarf Apricot / Zhongren 5 / PT47" and "Zhongren 5 / Dwarf Apricot / PT47" revealed an 8-day difference in maturity. These results indicate that even when the apricot cultivars in a grafted combination are identical, the choice of interstock can significantly influence the effectiveness of regulating fruit maturity. This suggests that the early or delayed maturity of fruit should not be simply attributed to the "neutralization" of the early or late maturing characteristics of the interstock and primary cultivar.

[0073] In addition, the grafted combination "Dwarf Apricot / Flavor Rose / Plum" matured 4 days later than "Dwarf Apricot / PT47." When Golden Sun was used as the interstock for grafting, the fruit of "Luntai No. 9 / Golden Sun / PT47" matured 2 days later than the control "Luntai No. 9 / PT47."

[0074] The above results show that Zhongren No. 5, Flavor Rose, Golden Sun and Dwarf Apricot can effectively delay the maturity of apricot fruit when used as interstocks.

[0075] like Figures 2 to 4 These are photos of mature fruits from each group obtained in the grafting experiment, with the stockpile omitted.

[0076] As can be seen from the figure, in general, for the grafting combination containing the intermediate stock, the characteristics of the fruit are closer to the characteristics of the variety corresponding to the second scion (main variety). This is specifically reflected in the size of the fruit and the color of the flesh. In other words, the addition of the intermediate stock during grafting will not have a significant impact on the fruit characteristics of the main variety, and some specific grafting combinations can effectively regulate the time of fruit ripening. Figure 2The third group, third row, "Dinosaur Egg / ZS001 / PT47" is a grafted combination that can effectively advance the ripening period of apricot fruits. Comparing the ripe apricot fruits of "Dinosaur Egg / Li" and "Dinosaur Egg / ZS001 / PT47", we can find that the appearance of the two is very similar, with "Dinosaur Egg / ZS001 / PT47" being only slightly smaller. Figure 2 In the first group of fruits, the "Dwarf Apricot / Zhongren No. 5 / PT47" variety matured six days later than the control, "Dwarf Apricot / PT47." However, the mature fruits of the two varieties were similar in size and flesh color. These results further demonstrate that grafting using an interstock does not significantly affect the characteristics of the main variety, but can effectively regulate the maturity period of apricot fruit.

[0077] In actual production, the grafting plan can be reasonably arranged according to the differences in fruit ripening time of each grafting combination to extend the time of apricot fruit to market, or avoid the time of traditional mid-ripening varieties to market.

[0078] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely examples for clarity of explanation and are not intended to limit the embodiments. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other variations or modifications based on the above descriptions are possible. It is not necessary and impossible to enumerate all embodiments here. Obvious variations or modifications arising therefrom remain within the scope of protection of the claims of this patent application.

Claims

1. A method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit, characterized in that: Grafting the first scion onto the base stock to obtain an intermediate stock; and then grafting the second scion onto the intermediate stock to obtain a grafted combination; When the method is used to advance the fruit maturity period of a grafted combination compared to the fruit maturity period when the second scion is directly grafted onto a base stock, the varieties of the second scion, the first scion, and the base stock in the grafted combination are any of the following combinations: (a) The second scion is the apricot variety Longwangmao, the first scion is PT56, and the rootstock is PT47; (b) The second scion is the apricot variety Longwangmao, the first scion is PT3, and the rootstock is PT47; (c) The second scion is apricot variety Youyi, the first scion is PT56, and the rootstock is PT47; (d) The second scion was apricot variety Youyi, the first scion was PT3, and the rootstock was PT47; When the method is used to delay the fruit ripening period of a grafted combination compared to the fruit ripening period when the second scion is directly grafted onto a base stock, the varieties of the second scion, the first scion, and the base stock in the grafted combination are any of the following combinations: (1) The second scion is a dwarf apricot variety, the first scion is flavor rose, and the rootstock is plum; (2) The second scion is the apricot variety Luntai No. 9, the first scion is Jin Taiyang, and the rootstock is PT47; (3) The second scion was the apricot variety Zhongren No. 5, the first scion was the dwarf apricot, and the rootstock was PT47.

2. The method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit according to claim 1, wherein The method comprises the following steps: S1. Stockstock selection: Select healthy apricot seedlings or plum seedlings as stockstocks; S2. First grafting: collecting budded branches from the apricot, plum, or almond tree serving as the interstock donor during the dormant period or in summer; taking the first scion from the collected budded branches and grafting the first scion onto the base stock; S3, cutting the stock and removing the buds: After the wound of the first graft is healed, cutting the stock and removing the buds, and applying a healing agent to the wound of the cutting stock. After the first scion survives, the intermediate stock is obtained; S4. Second grafting: Collect the second scion and graft it onto the middle stock in the spring or summer of the year following the first grafting. After the second scion survives, a grafted combination is obtained.

3. The method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit according to claim 2, wherein In step S1, the selected anvil has a ground diameter of 0.6 to 1.0 cm.

4. The method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit according to claim 2, wherein In step S2, when collecting branches with buds during the dormant period, the thickness of the buds on the branches with buds is 0.8 to 1.0 cm, and the branches with buds are one-year-old branches; when collecting branches with buds in summer, the thickness of the buds on the branches with buds is 0.6 to 1.0 cm, and the branches with buds are branches of the current year.

5. The method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit according to claim 2, wherein In step S2, for branches with buds collected during the dormant period, a first scion is taken and grafted in the first spring after the collection; for branches with buds collected in the summer, a first scion is taken and grafted in the summer of the year of collection; In spring grafting, grafting should be carried out when the average daily temperature is greater than or equal to 8°C for 10 consecutive days from late February to late March; the grafting method is chip bud grafting, cleft grafting or tongue grafting; When grafting in summer, it should be carried out when the average daily temperature is within the range of 20-25℃ for 10 consecutive days from late May to mid-June; when grafting, the first scion is grafted to the branch on the sunny side of the base stock by bud grafting.

6. The method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit according to claim 2, wherein In step S3, when the anvil is cut, the anvil is cut at a position 1 cm above the grafting wound.

7. The method for regulating the ripening period of apricot fruit according to claim 2, wherein In step S4, when grafting is performed in spring, the grafting is performed when the average daily temperature is greater than or equal to 8°C for 10 consecutive days from late February to late March; when grafting is performed in summer, the grafting is performed when the average daily temperature is within the range of 20-25°C for 10 consecutive days from late May to mid-June; when grafting is performed in spring, the grafting is performed by budding, cleft grafting or tongue grafting; when grafting is performed in summer, the second scion is grafted onto the branch on the sunny side of the intermediate stock by bud grafting.

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