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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #143390
Title: INFLUENCE OF SCION AND RO0TSTOCK ON INCIDENCE OF PEACH TREE SHORT LIFE

Author
item Beckman, Thomas
item Okie, William

Submitted to: International Peach Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/28/2000
Publication Date: 7/8/2001
Citation: Beckman, T.G., Okie, W.R. Influence of scion and ro0tstock on incidence of peach tree short life. Fifth International Peach Symposium. 2001. Abstract p.74

Interpretive Summary: Rootstock is known to have a big influence on peach tree survival in the Southeast. From this research we think there is a similar effect of variety on susceptibility to Peach Tree Short Life, although perhaps not as great as the rootstock effect. Growers may want to select certain more tolerant varieties for use on replant sites, and plant more susceptible varieties to sites where short life is less of a problem.

Technical Abstract: Previous work has suggested that peach scion variety exerts a profound influence on incidence of peach tree short life (PTSL) in trees budded onto Nemaguard peach rootstock. If this influence is consistent across a range of rootstocks, then the influence of scion variety might offer a new tool for the management of PTSL. Growers could minimize losses on those sites most prone to PTSL by using less susceptible scion/rootstock combinations. Trees of Agua 6-4, Springcrest, Redglobe, Redhaven and Cresthaven budded onto Guardian, Lovell, Nemaguard and Siberian C peach seedling rootstocks (in all combinations) were planted on a site with a known history of PTSL. After 6 years, 26% of test trees had succumbed to PTSL and 18% to other causes. Significant differences were observed in both scion and rootstock influence on incidence of PTSL. Main effects of scion variety ranged from 4 to 46% PTSL mortality. Main effects of rootstock variety ranged from 7 to 71% PTSL mortality. However, a significant scion x rootstock interaction was present. This appeared to be largely the result of anomalously low or high PTSL incidence observed in 2 scion/rootstock combinations. Otherwise trends appeared to be consistent. This might be the result of insufficient replication, inadequate time for PTSL to develop fully across the trial site or possibly misdiagnosis. These results suggest that some caution should be used in extrapolating the rootstock treatment effects determined in a typical PTSL trial budded with a single scion variety to their influence beneath other untested scion varieties.