Scion × Rootstock Response on Production, Mineral Composition and Fruit Quality under Heavy-Calcareous Soil and Hot Climate

Since there are many different factors which affect peach orchard profitability, it is necessary to conduct long-term studies to find the best scion/rootstock combination within the constraints imposed by local climate and economic conditions. The influence of six peach-almond hybrids (&ldquo:Adafuel&rdquo:, &ldquo:Adarcias&rdquo:, Garnem&rdquo:, &ldquo:GF 677&rdquo:, &ldquo:PADAC 9902-01&rdquo: and &ldquo:Rootpac 70&rdquo:): one P. persica &times: P. davidiana hybrid: &ldquo:Cadaman&rdquo:: five hexaploid plums (&ldquo:Adesoto 101&rdquo:, &ldquo:PM 44 AD&rdquo:, &ldquo:PM 105 AD&rdquo:, &ldquo:PM 150 AD&rdquo:, and &ldquo:Penta&rdquo:): three plum &times: peach-almond hybrids (&ldquo:PADAC 04-01&rdquo:, &ldquo:PADAC 04-03&rdquo: and &ldquo:PADAC 99-05&rdquo:), and one plum x almond hybrid (&ldquo:Rootpac R&rdquo:) on agronomic, basic fruit quality parameters, and flower and leaf mineral nutrients of the &ldquo:Big Top&rdquo: nectarine was tested. The highest vigor was induced by &ldquo:Adafuel&rdquo:, while the lowest vigor was exhibited by &ldquo:PM 105 AD&rdquo:, although the latter did not differ from the rest of the rootstocks. Yield efficiency was higher for &ldquo:Adesoto 101&rdquo: and lower for &ldquo:Adafuel&rdquo:. Regarding the soluble solids content (SSC), &ldquo:PADAC 04-01&rdquo: rootstock induced the highest average content, although it did not differ from &ldquo:Adarcias&rdquo:, &ldquo:Adesoto 101&rdquo:, &ldquo:PADAC 99-05&rdquo:, &ldquo:PM 105 AD&rdquo:, and &ldquo:Rootpac R&rdquo:. In addition, significant effect of rootstock was found on the flower and leaf mineral analysis traits evaluated. The medium (&ldquo:Adarcias&rdquo:, &ldquo:Adesoto 101&rdquo:, &ldquo:PM 105 AD&rdquo:) to high vigorous plum based hybrid rootstocks (&ldquo:PADAC 04-01&rdquo:, &ldquo:PADAC 99-05&rdquo: and &ldquo:Rootpac R&rdquo:) showed the tendency to induce a better fruit quality, based on higher concentration of SSC, and other yield attributes, demonstrating their commercial interest as new rootstocks for peaches. Considering its overall performance, &ldquo:PADAC 04-01&rdquo: appears as a new promising rootstock alternative to peach-almond hybrids on heavy and calcareous textured soils.