2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): To develop new stonefruit rootstocks and management practices to control soilborne diseases and nematodes. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): Soilborne diseases and nematodes will be investigated by:. 1)evaluating stonefruit germplasm on sites infested with soilborne diseases and nematodes;. 2)intercrossing and developing selections for further breeding, commercial testing and subsequent release; and. 3)testing and evaluating new and novel combinations of chemical and cultural strategies in conjunction with genetic solutions. 3.Progress Report: This research supports inhouse project objective: Develop improved varieties of peaches and plums for the southeastern United States, and improved clonal and seedling rootstocks for peach and other stone fruits. The development of new rootstocks and management practices for the control of soil borne diseases and nematodes of peach is an urgent need of the southeastern US peach industry. This has become even more apparent with the introduction of ‘Guardian’ peach rootstock in 1993. ‘Guardian’ has been widely adopted by the southeastern US peach industry and though it has provided exceptional resistance to peach tree short life (PTSL), it is highly susceptible to Armillaria root rot (ARR) which has now surpassed PTSL as the primary cause of premature peach tree death. The first group of plum hybrid and plum x peach hybrid rootstock selections bred in this program have completed their disease resistance and horticultural evaluations. The first release from this group, MP-29, has moved into commercial production. MP-29 offers excellent resistance to both PTSL and ARR. The first finished trees budded onto MP-29 will be delivered to growers this fall. Evaluations are continuing and the scaling up of materials to support additional release(s) is progressing.