Rootstock and fruit canopy position affect peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] (cv. Rich May) plant productivity and fruit sensorial and nutritional quality.
The right combination of rootstock and training system is important for increased yield and fruit sensorial and nutritional homogeneity and quality with peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch]. We investigated the effects of rootstock and training system on these parameters, testing the effect of vigorous GF677 and weaker Penta rootstock on 'Rich May' peach cultivar. Fruit position effects regarding photosynthetically active radiation availability, along the canopy profile using the Y training system, were investigated. The positive relationships between total polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity according to canopy vigour and architecture were determined for the two scion/stock combinations. Changes in fruit epicarp colour and content of bioactive compounds were also determined. Lower-vigour trees from Penta rootstock grafting yielded larger fruit with improved skin overcolour, and greater total polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity. GF677 rootstock produced more vigorous trees with fruit with lower sensorial and nutritional parameters. Canopy position strongly affects fruit sensorial and nutritional qualities. These data define potential for improvements to peach production efficiency and fruit quality, particularly for southern Europe peach cultivation conditions.
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Risorse Forestali, Ambiente, Risorse Zootecniche, Ingegneria Agraria, Alimenti (AG.R.A.R.I.A.), Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy(1).
Gregorio
G
Gullo
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy(2).
Antonio
A
Motisi
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Risorse Forestali, Ambiente, Risorse Zootecniche, Ingegneria Agraria, Alimenti (AG.R.A.R.I.A.), Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy(1).
Rocco
R
Zappia
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Risorse Forestali, Ambiente, Risorse Zootecniche, Ingegneria Agraria, Alimenti (AG.R.A.R.I.A.), Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy(1).
Agostino
A
Dattola
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali (D3A), Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy(3).
Jacopo
J
Diamanti
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali (D3A), Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy(3). Electronic address: b.mezzetti@univpm.it.
Bruno
B
Mezzetti
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D009753:Nutritive Value; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D013649:Taste
D000975:Antioxidants; D059808:Polyphenols
Canopy; Peach; Photosynthetically active radiation; Polyphenols; Production efficiency; Rootstock; Total antioxidant capacity