23 Pags.- 4 Tabls.- 2 Figs. The definitive version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03044238The 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.This study was funded by the Spanish MICINN (Ministry of Science and Innovation) grants AGL2005-05533, AGL2008-00283 and AGL2011-24576, and RFP 2012-00020 cofunded by FEDER and the Regional Government of Aragon (A44).Peer reviewe

The agronomic performance and leaf mineral nutrition of the non-melting clingstone peach cv. ‘Catherina’ was evaluated on seven hexaploid plum rootstocks, as well as one Prunus persica seedling. They were assessed over a period of 15 years in a field trial at the Experimental Station of Aula Dei-CSIC (Zaragoza, Spain), located in the Ebro Valley (NE Spain). Growing conditions generated varying levels of tree mortality, the highest with Constantí 1, Monpol and Montizo, whereas all Adesoto, GF 655/2 and PM 105 AD trees survived well. GF 655/2 and P. Soto 67 AD proved to be the most dwarfing rootstocks, while Constantí 1 and Monpol were the most invigorating and generated greater cumulative yields. However, the highest yield efficiency was recorded on GF 655/2 and Montizo, although they did not differ significantly from Adesoto and P. Soto 67 AD. The highest average values for fruit weight were observed on PM 105 AD and the lowest on GF 655/2, but they did not differ significantly from the rest of the rootstocks. The highest average values for the soluble solids content was observed on the Pollizo rootstocks Adesoto and PM 105 AD, followed by P. Soto 67 AD. All rootstocks induced N deficiency, with the exception of Constantí 1, GF 655/2 and Montizo, and iron deficiency, except PM 105 AD. The invigorating rootstock Constantí 1 seems to induce higher SPAD values. According to the ΣDOP index, Montizo presented the most suitable balanced nutritional index, but it did not differ significantly from the rest of the rootstocks except GF 655/2 and P. Soto 67 AD.

Apple is widely cultivated in temperate regions. The beneficial properties of apple for preventing several illnesses are widely known. Nevertheless, qualitative variables such as sweetness or sourness may influence consumer satisfaction; they are critical factors for fruit consumption and essential in plant breeding. In the present work, 155 apple accessions were assessed during five consecutive years (2014–2018). Four individual sugars and seven organic acids were analysed by HPLC. A mixed-effects model was fitted with accessions and the years’ climatic features as independent variables. A cluster analysis was applied on the mixed-effects model coefficients. Four groups were considered as optimum. Genetics seemed to have the strongest effect and showed clear differences between accession groups, while climate effects were strong only for certain compounds and had a more horizontal behaviour equally affecting the different accession groups. In fact, non-Spanish cultivars tended to concentrate, while autochthone accessions had a much wider spread. Individual sugars and acids concentrations correlated negatively with precipitation and positively with temperature range and solar radiation in all accession groups. The geographic region where the orchard is grown is thus very important in the resulting metabolites profiles. Moreover, apple genetics would also play a decisive role as highlighted in the cluster analysis.