SCREENING PRUNUS GERMPLASM FOR POTENTIAL ROOTSTOCKS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA REPLANT SITES

A global collection of Prunus germplasm from the subgenera Amygdalus and Euprunus was planted on a non-fumigated peach tree short life (PTSL) site in central South Carolina.
A total of 139 clonal rootstocks and open-pollinated families were tested of which 47 originated from 14 countries outside North America.
The trees were evaluated for 5 years for symptoms of peach replant disease (PTSL) as evidenced by bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae), ring nematode (Criconemella xenoplax) injury, and subsequently, mortality from cold injury.
Lovell, the standard commercial rootstock, had > 97% survival as did 5 other families which included Halford, 2 Nemaguard and 2 naturalized seedling selections.
Twenty-six of the 30 families having >50% PTSL mortality originated from breeding programs outside the United States.
The best sources for new rootstocks appeared to be from naturalized peach populations and existing rootstock lines.
Foreign peach cultivars were generally not well adapted to South Carolina replant sites.

II International Peach Symposium

G.L. Reighard, W.C. Newall Jr, David W. Cain

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1989.254.47