A plant selected specifically for its robust, disease-resistant, or size-controlling roots, onto which a fruiting variety is grafted. In orchard culture, the rootstock dictates the final size of the tree, its tolerance to soil conditions, and its resistance to soil-borne pathogens. It does not affect the genetic makeup of the fruit produced by the scion.
Heard on the job
We grafted the Honeycrisp wood onto M9 rootstock to keep the trees dwarfed for the high-density trellis.
Also heard as
- stock