HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN THE COMPATIBLE GRAFT UNION 'CHERRY RED' (PRUNUS PERSICA (L.) BATSCH/'CONSTANTI' (P. DOMESTICA L. OR P. INSITITIA)

The abnormal performance of the cambium caused important pits and pegs, easily visible when bark was peeled off, and abundant necrotic tissue filled these grooves. Consequently, development of trees was highly reduced from the third year of field growth.

Combinations of other peach varieties with the same rootstock 'Constanti' did not show any kind of abnormality, neither did 'Cherryred' grafted on the rootstock 'Brompton' (P. domestica L.).

The changes appear to be the result of hypersensitivity reaction of rootstock 'Constanti' to the pathogens provided by the peach variety 'Cherryred'. Indexing showed the presence of apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) in the scion but not in the rootstock. Other virus such as prunus necrotic ring spot (PNRSV), prune dwarf (PDV), apple mosaic (ApMV), plum pox (PPV), tomato ring spot (TomRSV), or different nepo-viruses were not detected. The presence of a virus-like disease is discussed.

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