Performance of Trees in the 

 Massachusetts Planting of the 

 1994 NC-140 Peach Rootstoci^ Trial 

 over Seven Growing Seasons 



Wesley R. Autio, James Krupa, and Jon Clements 



Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts 



Peaches are an increasingly important crop for 

 famistand sales in southern New England. Generally, 

 returns are very good, but labor inputs are high, particularly 

 for pruning and hand thinning. Some work is underway to 

 address both of these issues. Duane Greene and Jim Krupa 

 are working on thinning chemicals to reduce the amount of 

 hand thinning required, and Jon Clements is beginning to 

 study alternative training schemes that may reduce pmning 

 costs. Although not likely to affect thinning needs, 

 rootstocks may be another means of reducing pruning costs. 



Only recently have researchers begun to evaluate 

 rootstock material for peaches. Since the mid 1980's, the 

 NC-140 Technical Committee has completed one trial, 

 planted a second, and is planning a third. The second trial 

 includes a number of rootstocks in about 20 locations and 

 was established in 1994. Little interest exists in dwarfing 

 rootstocks in much of the Country, but some of the material 

 in this trial provide size control. The primary objective of 

 the Massachusetts planting is to evaluate these rootstocks 

 for dwarfing potential. 



Fruit Notes, Volume 65, 2000 



