Crop Load and Rootstock Influence on Dry Matter Partitioning in Trees of Early and Late Ripening Peach Cultivars

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. vigor, starch, fruit size, Prunus persica ABSTRACT. Effect of crop load on dry matter partitioning was studied on 3-year-old peach ((Prunus persica (L.) Batsch (Peach Group)) trees of the early ripening 'Early May Crest' (EMC) grafted on 'GF677' and Penta (Prunus domestica L.) rootstock and the late ripening 'Flaminia' grafted on 'GF677' rootstock ((Prunus persica x Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb) and grown outdoors in 230-L containers, for 2 years. Fruit thinning was carried out 10 days after fruit set to produce different crop loads. Trees were sampled destructively throughout two growing seasons and divided into above- ground and root components, for dry matter …