Weather conditions are often unfavourable for fruit cultivation. Hail, but also frost may have disastrous consequences. Q-Eline is the first pear rootstock to minimise this risk. Research and practical experiences have shown that the rootstock is resistant to temperatures down to about -25°C. This quality the rootstock owes partly to its compact cell structure.
The high frost resistance affords reliability and makes quince rootstocks available to colder regions in which quinces could hitherto not be grown. Research into its Value for Cultivation and Use carried out by the renowned Dutch Applied Plant Research institute PPO also revealed a high level of frost resistance. In the institute’s trials, Conference was tested on various rootstocks, and Q-Eline was found to be the least susceptible to frost damage. The trials also showed that Q-Eline is virtually unsusceptible to stress at extremely low temperatures or at high temperatures of more than 35°C.
Other trials led to the conclusion that Q-Eline is comparable with C quinces in terms of vigour and the sizes of the fruit. Its production is even higher. The rootstock is moreover very compatible with many pear varieties. The compatibility is even so good that varieties grafted on Q-Eline can be propagated in two years instead of the usual three. That’s also a major advantage, especially at times when pears are scarce. Another favourable characteristic is the rootstock’s relatively early production. On top of this, Conference trees grafted on Q-Eline produce smooth, green pears with less bronze colouring than the fruits that are obtained with the quince rootstocks C, Adams, C132 and MH.
NB: for a successful crop it is essential for the trees to be placed in water for 48 to 72 hours before planting, to enable them to suck up plenty of water.