Peach Rootstock/Scion Hardiness Effects1

Abstract

Cold resistance of current season shoots of ‘Redhaven’ peach in the nursery as affected by 4 rootstocks was determined by electrical conductance. Significant conductance differences were noted on scion due to rootstock effects, and the most effective time for determining this difference appeared to be in early winter. There were significant differences due to late N applications. Late winter determinations showed that rootstock effects tend to diminish except at critical temperatures. There was variance in relative hardiness of stocks from 1 temperature to another or on different dates but, in general, ‘New’ and ‘Harrow Blood’ transmitted more hardiness to scions that did ‘Siberian C’ or ‘Rutgers Red Leaf’. ‘Siberian C’ was generally better than ‘Rutgers Red Leaf’.

Influence of Peach Seedling Rootstocks on Defoliation and Cold Hardiness of Peach Cultivars1

“…The external and internal factors that affect the rootstock influence on scion hardiness are unknown, however, and should be studied. Tree age appears to be important, since different results were obtained with young non-bearing trees(2,13) than with bearing trees reported here. Presumably other environmental and physiological factors are involved as well.…”

“…The onset of dormancy in willow (Salix viminalis L.) was found to be associated with low levels of cytokinins and high levels of abscisic acid (1). Peach seedling rootstocks have been found to differ in their effects on growth and development (5,7,10,11), defoliation and dormancy reported here, and cold hardiness of peach scion cultivars (2,10,13). The physiological bases for the rootstock effects on these factors are not known.…”

Cultural Practices Affect Cold Hardiness and Peach Tree Short Life1

“…These trees in our test were especially susceptible to cold in early winter. These findings support other evidence (1,3,9) that late fall N amendment decreases cold hardiness. Levitt (17) suggests that addition of N causes the tree to remain vegetative and not acclimate properly.…”

Siberian C Rootstock Delays Bloom of Peach 1

“…Peach trees usually consist of 2 genetically different parts: the rootstock and the scion cultivar. The type of rootstock can affect dormant scion flower bud hardiness (5), scion wood hardiness (2,7), growth, crotch angle development, carbohydrate metabolism (6), and tree survival (7). The influence of rootstock on date of bloom has not been demonstrated in peach.…”