Volume 58 Number 1 Article 3
Year 2004 Month 1
Title: Modifying Bloom and Harvest Date of Peach with Interstems and Rootstocks
Author: T.G. Beckman
Abstract:
Avoidance of spring freeze injury through bloom delay can provide more consistent cropping in areas
prone to late spring frosts.
In this study, a Ta Tao #6 interstem significantly retarded bloom of
'Springcrest' and 'Harvester' peach, averaging nearly 8 days delay.
Significant freeze events occurred in
two of the four cropping years observed.
However, the bloom delay provided by a Ta Tao #6 interstem
was sufficient in only one of these events to significantly improve fruit yield.
Attempts to close a
harvest gap between 'Harvester' and 'Redglobe' peach cultivars by altering fruit maturation were only
partially successful.
Fruit maturation of 'Harvester' and 'Springcrest' on Ta Tao #6 interstem trees was
delayed on average 3.6 days over the 3 cropping seasons observed when compared to that of their 2-piece counterparts on Lovell seedling rootstock without the interstem.
However, 2-piece trees of
'Redglobe* on Halford seedling rootstock failed to advance maturation compared to their counterparts
on Lovell rootstock and the net shift in the harvest window of 'Harvester' peach was insufficient to
close the 11-12 days gap observed between the two cultivars.
Nevertheless, the use of Ta Tao interstems
to delay bloom and fruit maturation may offer growers a useful tool to manage their spring frost risk and
harvest management.
Full text download: APS subscribers
ISHS members & pay-per-view
(PDF 1512463 bytes)
Translate:
APS membership administration
ISHS membership administration
