Abstract
This study aimed to measure the leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD 502 Plus) in three peach cultivars grafted on different clonal rootstocks, totaling 68 scion/rootstock combinations, between five and nine months after planting in the field to determine possible graft incompatibility symptoms in Prunus spp. Three field trials with peach scion cultivars ‘BRS-Kampai’, ‘Jade’, and ‘Maciel’ grafted on 18, 25, and 25 clonal rootstocks, respectively, were established in July and August 2014. Own-rooted scion trees (without rootstock) were used as controls in each trial and all rootstocks were propagated from herbaceous cuttings. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications and each plot consisting of a single plant. Three SPAD measurements were taken between January and April 2015. SPAD index values for rootstocks ‘Mirabolano 29C’ (P. cerasifera) and ‘Marianna 2624’ (P. cerasifera x P. munsoniana) were significantly lower in the three scion cultivars, culminating with tree death from graft incompatibility. Rootstocks ‘Mirabolano 29C’ and ‘Marianna 2624’ showed translocated graft incompatibility with scion cultivars BRS-Kampai, Jade, and Maciel and tree death was preceded by a reduction in SPAD index values five months after field planting. No reduction in SPAD index values was observed in the other scion/rootstock combinations nine months after planting, but these combinations should be monitored for a longer period to confirm their graft compatibility.
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