Question 5
Which characteristic should the stock have?
The right answer is the one marked above.
Bearing a strong root system. The stock is the part connected to the soil, so it should also have uniform growth and withstand diseases and environmental changes.
Being a variety with good fruit, and being free of pests and diseases, are the characteristics of the scion — a variety with good characteristics, free of pests and diseases. Being in flower is wanted in neither; a shoot not currently bearing buds, flowers or fruit is the more suitable scion.