“The first trees grafted on Q-Eline rootstocks were planted at the former experimental nursery in Wilhelminadorp in 1993. One of the reasons for this trial was that this rootstock was expected to be more frost-resistant. In the absence of severe frost it was for many years virtually impossible to assess this, until the severe frost we had in the spring of 2012 showed that the claimed frost tolerance was indeed absolutely true.
Over the years, various fruit growers have planted pear trees grafted on Q-Eline, many of them in order to compare them with trees grafted on MC quinces. Both the ‘official’ trials and the growers’ practical experiences revealed an unmistakable difference in the amount of bronze colouring on the Conference pears. The smaller amount of bronze colouring observed on Q-Eline pears may in some cases be a disadvantage, but in others it will be an advantage. In some regions and at some fruit farms the bronze colouring of Conference pears from trees grafted on MA, MC or Adams quinces is too dominant and accompanied by too much russeting. So there Q-Eline offers the added advantage of a better skin quality on top of the greater frost resistance.”
