Rootstock Influence on the Performance of Peach Scions and Overall Tree Survival in the Southeastern United States

The primary focus of the USDA-ARS stone fruit rootstock program at Byron, Georgia has been the development of disease resistant rootstocks for peach. Historically peach tree short life (PTSL), aka ‘Bacterial Canker Complex’, and Armillaria root rot (ARR) have been the two most important causes of premature mortality of commercial peach trees in the southeastern United States. Several root-knot nematode species are of concern in this region as well. In addition to these disease issues the horticultural performance of trees on the new materials developed in this program is also of parmount importance. We have screened a broad range of Prunus germplasm and, in addition to useful differences in disease resistance, have found that these materials also have an impact on a number of important plant performance traits. Data will be presented on rootstock influence on tree vigor, anchorage, yield, fruit size, suckering and tree survival on disease prone sites.