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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #272198

Title: MP-29, a clonal interspecific hybrid rootstock for peach

Author
item Beckman, Thomas
item CHAPARRO, J - University Of Florida
item SHERMAN, W - University Of Florida

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/28/2011
Publication Date: 1/18/2012
Citation: Beckman, T.G., Chaparro, J.X., Sherman, W.B. 2012. MP-29, a clonal interspecific hybrid rootstock for peach. HortScience. 47(1):128-131.

Interpretive Summary: Guardian is currently the dominant rootstock for the southeastern peach industry primarily due to its superior resistance to peach tree short life (PTSL). However, Guardian lacks resistance to Armillaria root rot, now the leading cause of premature tree death in this area. MP-29 is a hybrid rootstock developed at the Byron lab that provides superior resistance to Armillaria root rot, peach tree short life and rootknot nematodes. Additionally, peach trees on MP-29 are semi-dwarf, approximately 75% the size of those on Guardian. This reduction in vigor will help reduce management costs and provide a more desirable tree size for homeowners and growers alike. MP-29’s broad disease resistance will not only improve tree health, longevity and productivity but will also help reduce chemical pesticide applications that would otherwise be required to suppress these disease problems.

Technical Abstract: MP-29 rootstock has been jointly released for grower trial by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (Byron, GA) and Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. MP-29 is suggested for trial as a rootstock for peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) varieties on Armillaria root rot (ARR) [Armillaria tabescens (Scop.:Fr.) Dennis et al.] infested sites where peach seedling type rootstocks often fail to provide satisfactory tree longevity. Peach varieties budded onto MP-29 rootstock displayed significantly better resistance to ARR than did trees on ‘Guardian’ or ‘Sharpe’ rootstocks. Trees on MP-29 displayed resistance to peach tree short life (PTSL) comparable to that of trees budded onto ‘Guardian’ peach seedling rootstock. MP-29 provides a marked reduction in tree vigor compared to peach seedling type rootstocks, and may prove useful as a semi-dwarf rootstock where a less vigorous tree is preferred.