Peach Rootstocks for the United States: Are Foreign Rootstocks the Answer?

New foreign rootstocks for peaches [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] are now being introduced into the United States through commercial nurseries for future sales to stone fruit growers. Almost all of these rootstocks are complex Prunus L. hybrids that are propagated vegetatively. Past experience with foreign Prunus rootstocks has shown that extensive testing is critical to avoid potential problems in commercial situations due to nonadaptation of some rootstocks to North American climatic and edaphic conditions. In addition, putative resistance of introduced rootstocks to common soil diseases and other pathogens has not always carried over to orchard sites in the United States. To ensure widespread horticultural testing of new rootstocks, the NC-140 regional research group continues to serve as an unbiased tester in many different geographic and production areas of the United States and Canada.