Articles
Rootstock vigor and fruit position in the canopy influence peach internal quality
Article number
1346_103
Pages
807 – 812
Language
English
Abstract
Inadequate light penetration throughout the tree canopy can negatively influence fruit quality.
Varying levels of peach rootstock vigor create distinct light environments for the developing fruit.
Five rootstocks of differing vigor: vigorous (Atlas and Brights Hybrid #5), standard (Krymsk®86 and Lovell), and dwarfing (Krymsk®1) grafted with Redhaven as the scion were studied for their impact on internal fruit quality and maturity.
Prior to harvest, the canopies from each rootstock were divided into two zones: top (>1.5 m) and bottom (<1.5 m) canopy and were assessed for photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) (i.e., canopy zone light availability) at each position.
Fruit physiological maturity (index of absorbance difference, IAD), dry matter content (DMC, %), and soluble solids concentration (SSC, %) were assessed simultaneously and non-destructively prior to harvest by scanning 10 fruit in each canopy zone using an accurately calibrated hand-held visual near-infrared spectrometer (Vis-NIRS). Across all rootstocks, the fruit in the top canopy demonstrated advanced maturity and elevated DMC and SSC due to increased light availability when compared to the bottom zone.
There was no significant difference in crop load (fruit no./trunk cross sectional area (TCSA) cm2) between rootstocks across both canopy zones.
Yield (kg tree‑1) and fruit count increased significantly with increasing vigor (TCSA) and light interception levels.
While, DMC and SSC increased significantly with increasing canopy zone light availability and decreasing vigor, potentially due to reduced intra-tree shading and better light distribution within the canopy.
These outcomes show that while rootstock genotype and vigor are influencing peach fruit development and quality, their effect on light relations may play a more significant role in achieving optimal yields and fruit quality.
Varying levels of peach rootstock vigor create distinct light environments for the developing fruit.
Five rootstocks of differing vigor: vigorous (Atlas and Brights Hybrid #5), standard (Krymsk®86 and Lovell), and dwarfing (Krymsk®1) grafted with Redhaven as the scion were studied for their impact on internal fruit quality and maturity.
Prior to harvest, the canopies from each rootstock were divided into two zones: top (>1.5 m) and bottom (<1.5 m) canopy and were assessed for photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) (i.e., canopy zone light availability) at each position.
Fruit physiological maturity (index of absorbance difference, IAD), dry matter content (DMC, %), and soluble solids concentration (SSC, %) were assessed simultaneously and non-destructively prior to harvest by scanning 10 fruit in each canopy zone using an accurately calibrated hand-held visual near-infrared spectrometer (Vis-NIRS). Across all rootstocks, the fruit in the top canopy demonstrated advanced maturity and elevated DMC and SSC due to increased light availability when compared to the bottom zone.
There was no significant difference in crop load (fruit no./trunk cross sectional area (TCSA) cm2) between rootstocks across both canopy zones.
Yield (kg tree‑1) and fruit count increased significantly with increasing vigor (TCSA) and light interception levels.
While, DMC and SSC increased significantly with increasing canopy zone light availability and decreasing vigor, potentially due to reduced intra-tree shading and better light distribution within the canopy.
These outcomes show that while rootstock genotype and vigor are influencing peach fruit development and quality, their effect on light relations may play a more significant role in achieving optimal yields and fruit quality.
Publication
Authors
J.R. Pieper, B.M. Anthony, D.G. Sterle, I.S. Minas
Keywords
Prunus persica, dry matter content, index of absorbance difference, near-infrared spectroscopy
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