ISHS Acta Horticulturae 254: II International Peach Symposium
COMPARATIVE TRIAL WITH TWO NEWLY-SELECTED PEACH ROOTSTOCKS. |
| Authors: | F. Loreti, R. Guerriero, R. Massai, M. Matteucci |
| Abstract:
The culture of peach on soils which are not very suitable for peach seedling rootstocks has created problems in some areas which are linked to a high incidence of iron chlorosis and to waterlogging. To decrease this problems growers have adopted the "GF 677" and the "GF 1869" rootstocks respectively. However, these rootstocks are not with out their problems; "GF 677" promotes excessive vigour, while "GF 1869" has a high production of suckers, and is incompatible with many nectarine varieties. The objective of our studies was to eliminate some of these problems through the selection of clones from our breeding program. In this paper we report the results of a trial carried out to compare "GF 677" and "GF 1869", with two new rootstock selections, "I.S.5/22" and "Mr.S.2/8" clones, selected by the Section of Fruit Sciences of the D.C.D.S.L. (Dipartimento di Coltivazione e Difesa delle Specie Legnose), University of Pisa. The trial was conducted in a silt-clay soil in Southern Tuscany (43° of latitude). The trees were planted in 1981 at distances of 4.5 × 2.0 m and trained to "free spindle". Cultural practices were normal for that area. Results obtained over the first six years (four years of cropping) revealed that the hybrid "I.S.5/22" favourably controlled plant vigour. The greater growth induced by "GF 677" required severe pruning operations to limit the canopy within the predetermined spaces. The two plum clones showed an intermediate level of vigour. Cumulative yield was associated with the size of the trees, within certain limits. "Mr.S.2/8" consistently yielded slightly more than "GF 1869". Increased fruit size, and earlier were noted for the two new selections. Cropping efficiency (Kg/cm2) was significantly higher in "I.S.5/22" than in the other clones considered. Suckering was almost nonexistent with the plum clone "Mr.S.2/8", and very high with "GF 1869". | |
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