Genetic improvement of apple seed rootstocks for selection of proper maternal dwarf native cultivars through progeny test (phase 1).

At present, genetic origin of seed rootstocks lots used for apple plant production in the Iranian nurseries, obtained from fruit wastes of different native and imported cultivars remaining in the processing industries, is totally incognito. These seed are graded merely by the size and while lack completely genetic purity due to big size and genetic heterosis benefit good germination and seedling vigor. The scions grafted on these rootstocks after plantation will become vigorous trees with less uniform canopies, so the fruit grower will find himself astonished for pruning, harvest and all operations. Such a situation will cause high operative and manual expenses with a minor high quality fruit and low yield. To improve apple seed rootstocks with known genealogy is needed at the first step individuation of proper parents. Adapt native parents with known genetic origin were selected as parents presenting weak vigor, disease resistance and self compatibility were individuated and collected mostly from National Collection of Commercial and Native Apple Cultivars located in Hort. Research Station of Kamalshahr (Karaj) and some from Azerbayjan-gharbi province. Morphological, pomological and productive traits were studied. The selected parents, seed donors, were propagated true to type and were established in a poly cross plot as a research seed orchard in Hort. Research Station of MeshkinShahr (Karaj). The main target was individuation and use of dwarf and or self compatible parent that produce open pollinated seeds that are easy grafting with the commercial cultivars, in two alternative phases. It the phase1, the Half-Sib seeds of the selected native parents: Morabbaei, zinati, Azayesh, Gami Almasi, Khan Almasi were harvested from seed orchard and were sent to the Isfahan, Khorasan and Azerbayjan-west provinces after washing, cleaning and sheed drying, while in Karaj were also added other Half-Sib seeds of "Golden-e Karaj", "Northen Spy" and "Orlean". The impure seed as control was purchased in each province from the market. The seed traits: color, length, diameter and weight were studied in each lot. Azerbayjan-west province only 9 Half-Sib seeds of each parent was sown and in Khorasan the program did not initiated. In the autumn of 2011 and 2012 all the seeds were cultivated in Karaj and Samirom (Alborz and Isfahan provinces). After vernalization in the nursery, the germination percents were estimated. In post emergence, the mean comparisons were made after data collection on seedlings height, stem diameter, the N. of graftable seedlings, the ratio of seed N to seedling produced, the ratio of graftable seedlings to seedling produced in each Half-Sib family. "Granny Smith", "Golden Delicious", "Red Delicious ", "Fuji", native "Golab Kohanz", "Gala", were grafted on all the Half-Sib lots drived from selected parents and the controls. grafting, the scion-rootstock compatibility was studied. Three orchards were established in the relative provinces, in 2013. In Phase2, precocity, tree vigor, fruit set and adaptation to different soil types will be studied compared with impure seeds in control treatment. The Factorial experiments will be achieved within completely randomized Designs. Key Words: Apple, Seed rootstocks, genetic purity, Parent selection, Self compatible, dwarf, Half-Sib seeds