Rootstock influence on flower bud hardiness and yield of 'Redhaven' peach

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 172 - 173
• Main Author: Durner, E.F. (Rutgers University, Cream Ridge, NJ)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Society for Horticultural Science 01.02.1990
• Subjects: ACLAREO; Adaptation to environment and cultivation conditions; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; CROP YIELD; DESEMPENO; ECLAIRCISSAGE; FLORACION; FLORAISON; FLOWERING; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; market yield; NEW JERSEY; PORTAINJERTOS; PORTE-GREFFE; PRUNUS PERSICA; RENDEMENT DES CULTURES; RENDIMIENTO DE CULTIVOS; ROOTSTOCKS; THINNING; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Temperature; Rosaceae; Environmental factor; Rootstock; Prunus persica; Fruit crop; Dicotyledones; Vernalization; Angiospermae; Flowering; Spermatophyta; Yield; Vigor; Fruit tree; Cultivar
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.25.2.172

`Redhaven' peach trees [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.] on their own roots or budded to seven rootstock [`Bailey', `Siberian C', `Lovell', `Halford' (seedlings), GF 655.2, GF 677 (`Amandier'), or `Damas' (GF 1869) (clonal)] were evaluated for rootstock influence on flower bud hardiness, live pistils at bloom, thinning requirements, marketable yield, and production efficiency after exposure to temperatures lower than – 23C in 1987 and to - 26C in 1988. In 1987, flower bud hardiness was as great on `Siberian C' as on own-rooted `Redhaven' and greater than on the other rootstock. Fewer live pistils were observed during bloom on GF 677 than on `Siberian C', `Lovell', `Damas', or self-rooted trees in 1987. In 1988, flower bud hardiness was greater on `Siberian C' and `Bailey' than on GF 677. At bloom, `Lovell' and `Siberian C' rootstock carried more flowers with live pistils than `Damas'.`Siberian C' and `Lovell' required significantly greater fruit thinning than all other rootstock and self-rooted trees. GF 677 produced a larger marketable crop than GF 655.2 or `Damas'. In addition, `Bailey', `Lovell', and self-rooted trees produced a significantly larger crop than `Damas'. No significant rootstock effect on production efficiency was detected in either year. Tree vigor during the growing season preceding each freeze did not significantly influence flower bud survival or productivity.