PERFORMANCE OF PEACH ROOTSTOCKS PROPAGATED AS SEEDLINGS VS. CUTTINGS

Abstract

Following the release of 'Guardian' (BY520-9) peach rootstock in 1993, nurseries experienced significant problems with seed germination when fall-planted directly into the nursery. Rooted cuttings were proposed as a possible alternative. 'Cresthaven' peach trees budded onto 'Nemaguard' seedlings, 'Guardian' cuttings and seedlings, and 'Lovell' cuttings and seedlings were established in 1997 in a high density orchard and trained to a 2-arm open center system. Through 2003, trees on 'Nemaguard' seedlings displayed the highest vigor when measured as trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA). Trees on 'Lovell' seedlings displayed the smallest TCSA. There was no significant difference in the TCSA observed in trees propagated on 'Guardian' cuttings vs. 'Guardian' seedlings. Through three harvest seasons, trees on 'Guardian' cuttings produced the largest cumulative yield but were not significantly different from that observed on 'Guardian' or 'Lovell' seedlings. Trees on 'Lovell' cuttings had the smallest cumulative yield. Trees on 'Lovell' seedlings displayed significantly higher cumulative yield efficiency than all other rootstock treatments. Trees on 'Nemaguard' seedlings displayed significantly lower cumulative yield efficiency than all other rootstock treatments except 'Lovell' cuttings. There was no significant difference in the cumulative yield efficiency of trees on 'Guardian' cuttings and those on 'Guardian' seedlings. There appears to be no clear horticultural advantage or disadvantage to the use of 'Guardian' cuttings over 'Guardian' seedlings at this time.