Effect of several peach x almond hybrid rootstocks on fruit quality of peaches

The influence on fruit quality of peach x almond hybrids 'Adafuel', 'Adarcias' and 'GF 677', as rootstocks for 'Catherina' peach cv. and 'Flavortop' nectarine cv. were tested in two trials. The experiment was performed in the Ebro Valley, on a heavy and calcareous soil. To evaluate fruit quality, parameters such as fruit size, fruit weight, colour, firmness and some chemical properties of the fruit (acidity, pH and soluble solid concentration) were measured. In addition, the most, glucose, fructose and sorbitol) were important sugars found in fruit juice (sucrose. analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Significant differences in sugar concentrations, colour parameters, fruit weight and size were found among rootstocks. Nevertheless, no differences were shown for firmness. Preliminary results indicate that 'Adarcias' rootstock induces the highest soluble solid concentrations.