Effect of Vegetative Rootstock on Growth and Fruit Characteristics of Peach and Nectarine Cultivars Under Environmental Conditions of Golestan Province of Iran

To assess the vegetative rootstock effect on some vegetative and reproductive characteristics of peach and nectarine commercial cultivars, a study was conducted in Golestan agricultural and natural resources research center, Iran, from 2012 to 2017. Six commercial cultivars; Kuota, Independence, J. H. Hale, Dexired, Redtop and Redgold, were grafted on Penta, Tetra and GF677 rootstocks. The greatest fruit yield efficiency was observed in Dexired and Independence on Penta, and the least in Redtop on GF677. The highest fruit yield per tree was obtained from J. H. Hale on GF677, and the lowest belonged to Independence on Penta. Also, the amount of total soluble solids (TSS) was significantly affected by rootstock and cultivar, and was the highest in cv. Redtop on the Penta. The lowes TSS, however, was measured in cv. Redtop on the GF677. The highest fruit acidity (pH) was in J. H. Hale on GF677. The effect of rootstock on the TCSA (tree cross sectional area) was significant, and the greatest was measured for cv. Redtop on GF677, and the least belonged to Redgold and J. H. Hale on GF677. The TCSA was the highest in GF677 and lowest in Penta. The largest canopy developed in cv. Redtop on GF677.