The high productivity of Fox 9 rootstocks

Over 70 people attended the Open Day organised by Vivai F.lli Zanzi on 27th July 2018. It focused on the comparison of pear rootstocks, and especially on Fox 9. Giovanni, Enrico and Riccardo Zanzi welcomed guests.

Fox 9 was developed by the Department of Tree Crops at the University of Bologna with the assessment of Veneto Agricoltura from a selection of seeds obtained by the free pollination of the Volpina cultivar. It's compatible with all main cultivars, resistant to stubble and characterised by good productivity.

"Fruit shape is always regular and the total production of an orchard is higher than that of a quince crop. We recommend a distance of 1.80 on rows and 3.50-3.80 between rows," explained Enrico Zanzi.

Maurizio Quartieri from the University of Bologna stressed that Fox 9 orchards do not need too many inputs. "We verified that, with less water and fertiliser, productivity is still higher than that of quince. Vigour is 10% higher than with BA29." 

Water requirement is lower than that of quince, as Fox 9 has deep roots. It's a rootstock that develops branches already in the nursery. It starts producing early, already from the third leaf.

"Tests carried out over 4 years show a productivity per (Abate) tree of 48.5 kg with Fox 9 and 42.6 with Ba 29. On William trees, Fox 9 produced 76 kg per plant against the 68.4 on Ba 29. Everything at the same conditions, of course. In addition, Fox 9 is also resistant to chlorosis.