FIELD PERFORMANCE OF SEVERAL HYBRID ROOTSTOCKS WITH SIX PEACH CULTIVARS

Within the framework of a nationally co-ordinated program supported by the Italian Ministry for Agricultural and Forestry Policy, in the autumn of 2009, a trial was established in the Latium Region (Rome, 41.7888N, 12.5685E, 125 m a.s.l.), on the peach cultivars ‘Ghiaccio’ 1, ‘Romestar’, ‘Sagittaria’, ‘Ufo’ 4, peach selection ‘CE 126’ and nectarine selection ‘CE 124’ grafted onto hybrid Prunus rootstocks: ‘GF677’ (P. persica × P. amygdalus), ‘Ishtara’ (P. cerasifera × P. salicina) × (P. cerasifera × P. persica); ‘Barrier 1’ (P. persica × P. davidiana); ‘Cadaman’ (P. persica × P. davidiana); ‘Felinem’ (P. amygdalus × P. persica). The experimental design was a randomised complete block with four trees for each cultivar and rootstock, replicated three times.
The planting distance was 4.5 x 4.0 m and the trees were trained to a free open vase.
The soil, classified as clay loam, had previously grown cereal crops.
Weed control was achieved by mechanical tillage between rows and chemical spray along the row.
A drip irrigation system guaranteed regular water availability.
Considering the average trunk cross-sectional area in the different cultivar/graft combinations, ‘Felinem’ (138.9%), ‘Barrier1’ (119.6%) and ‘Cadaman’ (102.1%) were more vigorous than ‘GF 677’ (100%), while ‘Ishtara’ was weaker (52.0%). The highest yields were induced by ‘Felimen’ (105.3%) and ‘Barrier1’ (103.5%) followed by ‘GF677’ (100%), ‘Cadaman’ (95.7%), and ‘Ishtara’ (49.2%). Trees on ‘Cadaman’ and ‘Barrier1’ roots consistently produced the largest individual fruits, which were the smallest on ‘GF677’.

X International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems

F.R. De Salvador, G. Proietti, R. Tomasone, C. Cedrola

graft combination, trunk growth, yield, fruit weight

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1058.74