Dwarfing
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
In horticulture dwarfing is considered a desirable characteristic in modern orchards, where genetic dwarfs may be selected and propagated, or more often, scions are grafted on to dwarfing rootstocks. Almost all modern apples in commercial use are propagated as dwarf or semi-dwarf trees for ease of picking and spraying, and higher productivity per unit of land.
Certain kinds of dwarfing could be pathological, these are usually called "stunt". This can be caused by nematodes, viruses, disease, or non-lethal herbicide damage.
See also: Fruit tree propagation
