CONTROL OF IRON CHLOROSIS AND REPLANT DISEASES IN PEACH BY USING THE G.F.677 ROOTSTOCK.

The problem of iron chlorosis on peach trees is very severe in certain areas of Greece and especially in central Macedonia. For the control the farmers are using much quantities of chelates of iron that is very expensive.

One other problem is the replant of old peach orchards.

For the solution of the problems a research work is carried out in the Pomology Institute of Naoussa to find resistant rootstocks.

In 1972 one experiment was established in a farm where was eradicated one of old peach orchard and the trees were showing very strong symptoms of iron chlorosis. In this experiment were compared two rootstocks: Local wild peach seedling and G.F.677 (hybrid peach X almond). On the two rootstocks was grafted the peach variety Vivian. The results till 1982 are the following:

1. Iron chlorosis was lower on G.F.677 rootstock about 40%
2. The growth and yield of the trees on G.F.677 rootstock was much higher than on peach seedling.