The field performance of Adara (Prunus cerasifera L.), SL 64 (P. mahaleb) andColt (P. avium X P. pseudocerasus) rootstocks grafted with two sweet cherry cultivars (P. avium L. cvs. 'Van' and 'Tardif de Vignola'), were tested for 12 years on a calcareous clayloam soil which was flood irrigated. No tree grafted on Adara died during the experiment.The percentage of dead trees of 'Tardif de Vignola' on SL 64 and Colt reached 63% and 19%, respectively. In turn, the percentage of dead trees of 'Van' was 19% when grafted on SL 64 and 6% on Colt. For 'Van' scion, Adara was the most invigorating rootstock and showed the greatest yield efficiency and cumulative production after 12 years. For 'Tardif de Vignola' scion, Adara also gave greater cumulative production, mean fruit weight, and vigour than SL 64 and Colt. Leaf mineral analysis of 'Van' trees showed a mineral element concentration closer to the optimum for the trees grafted on Adara than on SL 64 and Colt.According to our results, Adara seems to be a suitable rootstock for cherry cultivars to avoid root asphyxia in heavy soils and/or under flood irrigation conditions, where other  Corresponding author. 2 rootstocks fail to survive. Similarly, it also performs well in calcareous soils, which are not favourable for other cherry rootstocks.

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All nursery and orchard trials were performed on heavy clay and calcareous soils, with alkaline pH (8 to 9) and high total (30% to 35%) and active (10% to 11%) lime. Adara adapts well to these soils, being resistant to Fe chlorosis and root asphyxia. Adara appears to be a promising rootstock for many cherry cultivars grown in heavy and poorly drained soils or under irrigation where other rootstocks fail to survive (Table 3).

Field performance of several peach × almond hybrid [Prunus amygdalo-persica (West) Redh.] rootstocks grafted with different peach cultivars [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] were tested for 11 to 12 years in three experiments. `Loadel' scions were grafted on Adafuel, Adarcias, Albatarrech, Calanda, and GF 677 hybrids. `Catherina' and `Flavortop' scions were grafted on Adafuel, Adarcias, and GF 677 hybrids. Adafuel was the most invigorating rootstock for `Loadel', after the 12 years of scion growth, but Adarcias also promoted higher scion productivity than other peach × almond hybrid rootstocks. Although there were no differences in `Catherina' productivity when grafted on different rootstocks, this cultivar and `Flavortop' grafted on Adarcias showed the least vigor. `Flavortop' on Adafuel had more vigor than on the other rootstocks. According to our results, Adafuel (a vigorous rootstock) seems to be suitable for peach production in low nutrient and calcareous soils unfavorable for peach seedling rootstocks. Adarcias seems promising as a peach rootstock for avoiding excessive scion growth, and it may be useful where tree size needs to be controlled.