Influence of peach–almond hybrids and plum-based rootstocks on mineral nutrition and yield characteristics of ‘Big Top’ nectarine in replant and heavy-calcareous soil conditions

• A high variability was found for rootstocks survival and yield performance.
• Less invigorating rootstocks induce similar yield efficiency than GF 677.
• Cadaman and Replantpac are invigorating rootstocks that induces high yields.
• Tetra induced best balanced nutritional values compared with Barrier and Cadaman.
• Replantpac adapted well in replant and heavy-calcareous soil conditions.

The agronomic performance and leaf mineral nutrition for ‘Big Top’ nectarine budded onto twelve Prunus rootstocks were evaluated. Seven Prunus amygdalus × Prunus persica hybrids (Adafuel, Adarcias, Felinem, Garnem, Monegro, GF 677, and Mayor), two Prunus davidiana × P. persica hybrids (Barrier, Cadaman), a Prunus insititia plum (Adesoto), a Prunus domestica plum (Tetra), and another selection considered to be an hybrid of Prunus cerasifera × P. amygdalus parentage (Replantpac). Rootstocks were budded during the summer of 1999, and trees were established in a replant site in March 2001. The trial was located in the Ebro Valley (Northeastern, Spain) on a heavy-textured and calcareous soil typical of the Mediterranean area which supported a previous peach orchard until 2000. At the thirteenth year after budding, growing conditions generated varying levels of tree mortality, the highest with peach-almond hybrids: Adafuel, Garnem and Monegro. In contrast, all Replantpac trees survived well and the mortality rate was low on the other rootstocks. Adesoto, Tetra, and Adarcias proved to be the most dwarfing rootstocks, while Cadaman and Replantpac were the most invigorating and generated greater cumulative yields. However, the highest yield efficiency was recorded on GF 677, although it did not differ significantly from other peach-almond (Adarcias, Felinem) and plum (Adesoto, Tetra) rootstocks. The highest fruit weight was observed on Barrier and the lowest on Felinem and Mayor, but they did not differ significantly from the rest of rootstocks. Leaf mineral analysis of trees showed all rootstocks induced N and Fe deficiency and P optimum value according to reference values. Nevertheless, the tendency of plum Adesoto to induce higher Fe leaf concentration could indicate higher tolerance to iron-chlorosis in calcareous soils. The most invigorating rootstock Replantpac seems to induce higher SPAD values and adequate K, Mg and Mn values according to reference values. Tetra induced the best balanced nutritional values (ΣDOP), especially when compared with Barrier and Cadaman, although it did not differ significantly from GF 677 and Mayor.