ISHS Acta Horticulturae 592: V International Peach Symposium
MIPAF TARGETED PROJECT FOR EVALUATION OF PEACH ROOTSTOCKS IN ITALY: RESULTS OF SIX YEARS OF OBSERVATIONS |
| Authors: | F. Loreti, R. Massai |
| Keywords: | growth, yield, yield efficiency, pruning, Prunus persica |
| Abstract:
The MiPAF (Italian Ministry of Agricultural) targeted project “National Lists of Recommended Rootstocks and Fruit Varieties” aims to evaluate the performance of cultivars and rootstocks introduced in the Italian nursery market. As part of this project, trials were established to compare some of the most interesting rootstocks for peach in eight different locations in Italy. The rootstocks tested were: Rubira, P.S.A5, P.S.A6, Ishtara-Ferciana, Julior-Ferdor, Jaspi-Fereley, Citation-Zaipime, Barrier 1 and GF 677. In 1995, 8 orchards were planted at 5 by 5 m spacing; in each orchard 15 trees per rootstock, grafted with ‘Suncrest’ peach cv. and trained to open vase, were randomly distributed in a single plot. Locations of the orchards were distributed throughout Italy: two in the north (Cuneo and Forlì), two in the centre (Pisa and Ancona) and four in the south of the peninsula (Caserta, Metaponto, Catanzaro and Cagliari). This report highlights the main results obtained after 6 years of growth (3 years of production). Data are summarized either per rootstocks or per location. In each location, trees grafted on GF 677 were the most vigorous and very productive (109.7 kg/tree cumulative yield); they also had fruit size from medium to large. Also Barrier 1, showed good adaptability to various climate and soil conditions but vegetative growth and yield of this rootstocks were lower (15%) than GF 677. This clone constantly delayed (5-7 days) bud burst, bloom, harvest and leaf fall time. Peach seedling rootstocks (P.S.A5, P.S.A6 and Rubira) performed very well in good soil conditions, where yield per tree was only slightly lower than GF 677, but vigour was at least 20% lower than GF 677. Ishtara appeared as the better plum clone in this trial because of its high productivity (like that of peach seedlings), good vigour control (38% less than GF 677), good fruit size (183 g) and very low root suckering. Also Julior showed good soil adaptability but its root suckering appeared too high. Finally, Citation and Jaspi performed poorly because of high mortality rate of the grafted trees and poor vegetative growth and productivity. | |
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