Abstract:

Container seedlings of two-year-old excellent crabapple clones were tested in Binzhou, Dongying and Weifang respectively for selecting and breeding of salt and alkali resistant crabapple varieties. Resistance and adaptability were evaluated by phenology, morphological index observation and growth measurement. It was showed that in the three regional test sites, the phenological periods of seven crabapple clones (‘Aoshuang’, ‘Gaochuan’, ‘Naixin’, ‘Nasilu’, ‘Aoyunhong’, ‘Airuisi’, ‘Leilihong’) were similar, but slightly different with the location of regional test sites. The phenological period in Lize town in Binzhou economic development zone was the earliest, followed by that in Gudao Dongying, and that in Weizi Changyi was the latest; early flowering crabapple strains were ‘Naixin’, ‘Nasilu’, ‘Airuisi’, and M. micromalus; flowering periods of other crabapple clones were longer than ‘Gaochuan’ and ‘Aoyunhong’; fruits of every crabapple strains were persistent except ‘Aoshuang’ and M. micromalus. Growth, adaptability, stress resistance, and pest and disease resistance of the seven crabapple clones were significantly better than those of the control (Malus ‘Radiant’ and M. micromalus). Growth of ‘Airuisi’ was the largest, followed by that of ‘Gaochuan’. The seven crabapple clones that were measured in the regional test have good ornamental effect, strong salt and alkali resistance, fast growth and etc., so they are suitable for popularization and application in the Shandong coastal saline alkali land and the area with similar conditions.

Key words: crabapple clones, salt and alkali tolerance, regional test, growth increment, adaptability