Scion and stock diameter size effect on growth and fruit production of Sclerocarya birrea (marula) trees

摘要: Sclerocarya birrea (marula) is a highly valued fruit tree in southern Africa because of its products which have gained both regional and international markets. However, fruits been harvested from the wild with few provenances being managed on farmland. Grafted marula trees shown wide variations scion rootstock growth (for example, stem diameters), but effects these survival, production not evaluated. The objectives this study  were to (1) assess scions their stocks (2) evaluate effect stock differences overall grafted growth, flower farmland, six eight years after planting. Over 70% had similar diameters, while 24% had thicker (i.e, slow growing) than stocks. Trees rate high flowering percentage (> 40%), there was also significant abortion during three production. thicker produced significantly more (P < 0.05) rest. Such were 0.0126, N = 50) taller There low survival for either thick or thin relative diameters. It can be concluded that unequal has negative early dwarfing characteristics, may reduce yield years. Therefore, selection critical productivity.     Key words: Fruit abortion, graft compatibility, phenotypic variations, dwarfing.