Influence of Rootstocks on Leaf Mineral Content in the Subtropical Peach cv. UFSun

Abstract

<jats:p>The rootstock is an essential element for orchard management, influencing scion growth, nutrient concentration, and fruit quality. Seasonal variations in leaf nutrients of ‘UFSun’ grafted on five different rootstocks (‘Flordaguard’, ‘Barton’, ‘MP-29’, ‘P-22’, and ‘Okinawa’) were investigated during the 2017–18 growing season in Citra, FL. There was no significant variation in the macronutrient concentrations (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, and S) among different rootstocks; however, ‘UFSun’ on ‘Okinawa’ and ‘Flordaguard’ showed greater concentrations of Ca, K, and Mg concentration than other rootstocks. In contrast, ‘Flordaguard’ showed less potential to accumulate P as compared with other rootstocks. The Ca concentration was lowest in ‘MP-29’ and ‘Barton’ in April and June. The concentration of macronutrients (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, and S) in leaves was greater in April and October than in December and June. With respect to rootstocks, macronutrients in December and June were the highest in ‘Okinawa’ and the lowest in ‘Barton’. In April, the lowest concentration of macronutrient was recorded in ‘Barton’, whereas the highest concentrations were found in ‘P-22’, ‘Okinawa’, and ‘Flordaguard’. The highest leaf micronutrient concentrations were found in ‘MP-29’ and ‘Barton’, and the lowest in ‘Okinawa’ and ‘Flordaguard’ in June and October. For all rootstocks, concentrations of micronutrients increased between leaf growth in April and senescence in October. The micronutrient concentrations of leaves decreased during December. The widest dynamic changes during the vegetative cycle were found on ‘P-22’. Seasonal trends were more consistent for micronutrients than for macronutrients.</jats:p>

Bagging Organic Peaches Reduces Physical Injuries and Storage Decay with Minimal Effects on Fruit Quality

“…Optimal soil nutrient levels have not been determined for peach, but were uniform along the slope gradient and sufficient for citrus plant growth according to UF/IFAS recommendations in both years (Morgan et al, 2019; data not shown but will be available online at the UF dissertation repository in 2021). Leaf nutrient levels were adequate for optimum production (Johnson, 2008), similar to other leaf nutrient analysis of peach grown in Florida (Shahkoomahally et al, 2020), and did not differ between whole plot bagging treatment levels (data not shown).…”

Cultivar-rootstock interactions on growth, yield and mineral nutrition of newly planted peach trees in a pot experiment

“…It is believed that dwarfing rootstocks are less efficient in absorbing nutrients from the soil, especially some macronutrients, due to their restricted root volume and narrow xylem vessels (Zarrouk et al, 2005;Mestre et al, 2015;Ben Yahmed et al, 2020;Shahkoomahally et al, 2020). In the present experiment 'RP20' was the most dwarfing rootstock, with the rest of the rootstocks are considered invigorating ones.…”

“…The differences observed among rootstocks regarding leaf nutrient concentration of the budded cultivar are attributed to various factors. According to some authors, the final concentration of the nutrient in the leaves depends on the absorption, transportation, redistribution, and use of this nutrient (Jimenes et al, 2018;Shahkoomahally et al, 2020). Since rootstock is the plant part responsible for the absorption and transportation (to some extend) of the nutrient, any rootstock property influencing these two functions (root volume, root morphology, root xylem vessel characteristics), may have a significant effect on nutrient concentration found in the leaves (Meland, 2010;Mestre et al, 2015;Mestre et al, 2017;Ben Yahmed et al, 2020).…”

“…the rootstock and the scion cultivar (Zarrouk et al, 2005;Zarrouk et al, 2006;Ben Yahmed et al, 2020;Shahkoomahally et al, 2021). The right choice of the rootstock and scion cultivar combination is probably the most important factor of the peach cultivation success (Reig et al, 2016;Özdemir et al, 2019;Santana et al, 2020;Shahkoomahally et al, 2020). Rootstocks are selected based on some good properties, such as the aforementioned peach replant tolerance, resistance to soil pathogens and lime-induced chlorosis, to root-knot nematodes, to root asphyxia etc.…”

“…(Caruso et al, 1996;Bouhadida et al, 2009;Font i Forcada et al, 2012;Jimenes et al, 2018;Iglesias et al, 2019;Seker et al, 2017;Santana et al, 2020). The rootstock affects also the tree vigor, tree precocity, yield efficiency, fruit size and quality, as well (Boyhan et al, 1995;Reig et al, 2018;Reig et al, 2020;Seker et al, 2017;Shahkoomahally et al, 2020). The effects of rootstock on the grafted cultivar characteristics are mainly attributed to the change in the hormone balance induced by the rootstock, the uptake and the translocation of nutrients and water (Zarrouk et al, 2005;Mestre et al, 2015;Ben Yahmed et al, 2020;Reig et al, 2020;Shahkoomahally et al, 2020).…”