Rootstock effects on growth, yield, fruit quality and light interception in Forastero [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] peach

SCHIAFFINO M.R.; RADICE S.

Advances in Horticultural Science

Firenze University Press

Año: 2009 vol. 23 p. 185 - 195

0394-6169

Performance of Forastero [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] peach grafted on six rootstocks (Brompton, Cuaresmillo, Ferdor® Julior, GF305, GF655/2 and Mr.S. 2/5) was evaluated in an experimental orchard characterized by a silty clay loam soil type. Significant rootstock-induced effects were noted for vegetative development (average leaf size, specific leaf area, trunk cross-sectional area, canopy volume and weight of pruned wood), leaf nutrient content (K, Mg, N, Ca and P), fruit quality (diameter, weight, flesh, firmness and color), total yield (TY), cumulative total yield (CTY), yield efficiency expressed as total yield per unit land area occupied by the tree (YE), yield efficiency expressed as total yield per unit weight of pruned wood (PE), and percentage of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception. Neither leaf sucrose content nor yield efficiency expressed as total yield per unit trunk-cross sectional area was affected by the rootstock, while PAR interception was positively related to canopy volume, average leaf size and leaf Mg content. TY and CTY were positively related to both PAR interception and leaf Mg content. The rootstocks that induced intermediate and low tree growth, such as Brompton and Mr.S. 2/5, had the highest YE and PE, suggesting that these rootstocks induced the best scion performance in the studied orchard.