Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding 2025, Vol.15, No.4, 154-160 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/tgmb 157 5 Adaptability Assessment of Representative Bayberry Varieties 5.1 Criteria for assessing adaptability under dwarf-dense conditions Under the dwarf-dense cultivation model, to assess whether a bayberry variety is suitable, several aspects should be mainly considered: whether the fruit is prone to rot, what the sweetness and acidity are like, whether the appearance is good, whether it can resist diseases and pests, whether it will be affected by drought or cold, and whether it is easy to manage. Research has found that different varieties of bayberries vary greatly in terms of whether the fruit is rotten or not and the appearance is good. This may be related to the metabolic products in the fruit. For instance, substances like Mesuagin, Arctigenin and Eugenin are related to the degree of fruit rot and the weight of the fruit. It may be used to determine which varieties are suitable for processing and storage (Liu et al., 2025). 5.2 Performance of early-, mid-, and late-maturing varieties in model orchards In dwarf and densely planted orchards, varieties at different maturity times (early-maturing, mid-maturing, and late-maturing) perform differently. Some have high yields, some have good fruit quality, and some are more durable for storage. Although each variety is not specifically listed in the literature, many studies have pointed out that different types of bayberries vary in rot resistance, fruit quality and preservation time, all of which will affect their performance under high-density planting conditions (Liu et al., 2025). In addition, the old varieties of bayberries perform stronger in the face of pests and diseases and changes in the natural environment. Therefore, they may be more suitable for this dwarf-dense cultivation pattern (Li et al., 2024). 5.3 Pest/disease resistance, stress tolerance, and management requirements Disease and pest resistance as well as stress resistance are particularly important aspects when selecting varieties. Some old varieties of bayberries can attract and utilize some beneficial microorganisms, such as Bacillus in the roots and stems, Pseudomonas in the leaves, and Mortierella in the soil around the roots. These microorganisms can help the trees resist diseases and pests. Meanwhile, some protective substances will also accumulate in these varieties, which can enhance resistance (Li et al., 2024). In terms of preventing branch blight, some varieties with strong resistance will quickly activate the “self-defense” mechanism after being attacked by pathogens, enhance lignin synthesis, and make it difficult for pathogens to invade (Figure 2) (Ren et al., 2021; Guo et al., 2024). Overall, these varieties with good resistance usually do not require too much pesticide application or special care, which can help fruit farmers save money and effort, and also make cultivation more efficient. 6 Case Study: Implementation in a Commercial Bayberry Orchard 6.1 Site characteristics: location, climate, soil, and variety selection This case park is located on the southeast coast of China and has a subtropical monsoon climate. It rains a lot throughout the year here and the temperature is relatively moderate, making it quite suitable for growing bayberries. The soil in the garden is mainly acidic red soil, but in some areas it is saline-alkali land. In order to adapt to different soil conditions, on saline-alkali land, they used Morella cerifera as the rootstock and grafted good varieties such as ‘Biqi’ onto it, so that they could grow normally and have high yields in saline-alkali land (Saeed et al., 2023). In the common red soil areas, ‘Biqi’, which has strong adaptability and good fruit quality, is mainly grown. 6.2 Model construction process and orchard management practices The park has adopted the method of dwarf-dense planting. They pruned the large branches in summer. Two years later, the average height of the trees was only 3.72 meters, which was 76.88% shorter than the trees that were not pruned. When the trees are shorter, it becomes easier to pick and manage them. Moreover, the tree canopies are more ventilated and well-lit, which improves the quality and yield of the fruits. In saline-alkali plots, the grafted seedlings of the wax bayberry rootstock performed well, had strong stress resistance, grew fast, and could flower and bear fruit within 1~2 years after grafting (Saeed et al., 2023). The park has also adopted greenhouse cultivation technology, which can avoid the damage of rainy days to the fruits, extend the fruit-picking period and improve the quality of the fruits (Wu et al., 2021). In terms of daily management, they also pay attention to scientific fertilization, green pest and disease prevention, and water control to keep the bayberry trees healthy and high-yielding all the time.
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