Early Performance of Several Prunus Interspecific Hybrid Rootstocks for Redhaven Peach in Southern Ontario

A multi-year orchard experiment was established to measure the performance of Rootpac®-R, Rootpac®-20, Rootpac®-40, and Rootpac®-70 rootstocks using ‘Redhaven’ peach (Prunus persica var. persica) as scion, compared with Bailey seedling rootstock, current industry standard. Tree survival after five years 79% on Rootpac-40, whereas remaining showed no tree mortality. vigour canopy height width were influenced by rootstock genotype beginning year planting in 2016. For first production, Rootpac-70 consistently produced largest trees based TCSA five, all similar TCSAs, except for Rootpac-70, which 38% larger than Bailey. By cumulative yields greatest 10% higher Bailey; Rootpac-R, Rootpac-20, Rootpac-30 98%, 89%, 84% that Bailey, respectively. Cumulative yield efficiency significantly although magnitude differences small likely insignificant commercial importance. Rootpac-40 fruit. These results are only reflective establishment additional data required before producers can make fully informed decisions concerning evaluated this study their systems. However, at juncture, Rootpac impart excessive be used a density system offer little advantage over