ОЦЕНКА СОЧЕТАНИЙ ПРИВОЯ И ПОДВОЯ ПЕРСИКА В УСЛОВИЯХ ТАШКЕНТСКОГО РЕГИОНА УЗБЕКИСТАНА

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Аннотация

Выбор оптимальных комбинаций привоя и подвоя имеет решающее значение для повышения продуктивности и адаптации персика (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) к условиям засушливого климата. В данном исследовании оценивалась эффективность двадцати комбинаций привоя и подвоя в Ташкентской области, Узбекистан, с целью выявления наилучшего материала для интенсивного выращивания в питомниках. В течение трех лет (2022–2024) пять сортов персика (Инжирный Новый, Биг Банг, Лола, Красный Москва и Нектарин Красный) были привиты на четыре подвоя (GF677, Garnem, сеянцы персика и миндаля). Эффективность оценивалась с использованием обобщенной 10-балльной системы и показателя приживаемости почек. Комбинации с подвоями GF677 и Garnem продемонстрировали наивысшую совместимость прививки и жизнеспособность, при этом комбинация Инжирный Новый+GF677 достигла максимального показателя приживаемости почек — 94,9 %. Напротив, комбинации с использованием подвоев миндаля показали наихудшие результаты, что указывает на физиологические ограничения в исследованных почвенно-климатических условиях. Наши результаты подтверждают, что GF677 и Garnem являются наиболее перспективными подвоями для Ташкентской области, предлагая надежную стратегию повышения эффективности питомниководства и устойчивости садов в Узбекистане.

Abstract

The selection of optimal scion-rootstock combinations is critical for enhancing the productivity and environmental adaptability of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) in arid climates. This study evaluated the performance of twenty scion-rootstock combinations in the Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, to identify superior material for intensive nursery production. Over a three-year period (2022–2024), five peach cultivars (Inzhirniy Noviy, Big Bang, Lola, Krasniy Moskva, and Nectarine Krasniy) were grafted onto four rootstocks (GF677, Garnem, Peach, and Almond). Performance was assessed using a generalized 10-point scoring system and the bud take rate.The combinations involving GF677 and Garnem rootstocks demonstrated the highest graft compatibility and vigor, with the Inzhirniy Noviy + GF677 combination achieving the maximum bud take rate of 94.9 %. Conversely, combinations utilizing Almond rootstocks showed the lowest performance, indicating physiological limitations under the tested pedoclimatic conditions. Our findings establish GF677 and Garnem as the most promising rootstocks for the Tashkent region, offering a reliable strategy to improve nursery efficiency and orchard sustainability in Uzbekistan.

Ключевые слова: Prunus persica; совместимость привоя и подвоя; уход в питомнике; приживаемость почек; Ташкентская область; засушливый климат; помологические признаки.

Keywords: Prunus persica; scion-rootstock compatibility; nursery management; bud take rate; Tashkent region; arid climate; pomological traits.

Introduction

The selection of appropriate scion-rootstock combinations is a fundamental strategy in modern pomology, particularly for optimizing the productivity and adaptability of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. Global peach production faces increasing challenges from biotic and abiotic stressors, requiring rootstocks that provide robust graft compatibility and environmental resilience [Adám et al., 2015; Opazo et al., 2025].

Historically, research has underscored the critical role of rootstocks in governing tree vigor, cold hardiness, and nutrient uptake [Chaplin & Schneider, 1974; Indreias, 2008]. In contemporary intensive orchard systems, the demand for size-controlling rootstocks that maintain high yields while improving fruit quality has driven extensive international studies [DeJong et al., 2004; Reig et al., 2019]. Furthermore, as commercial production expands into regions with pedoclimatic constraints, such as heavy-calcareous soils and arid conditions, the scion-rootstock interaction becomes a decisive factor in tree longevity and stress tolerance [Font i Forcada et al., 2020; Ghrab et al., 2026].

Regional studies across varied environments have demonstrated that the compatibility between specific cultivars and rootstocks is site-dependent [Khan et al., 2024; Lesmes-Vesga et al., 2022]. For instance, managing the incidence of peach tree short life and enhancing drought resistance are perennial concerns that require localized validation of genetic material [Natalchuk & Pavliuk, 2024; Okie et al., 2001]. Despite these advancements, the criteria for selecting suitable rootstocks continue to evolve as breeding programs prioritize broader environmental adaptability [Uğur, 2025].

In Uzbekistan, characterized by a distinctively arid climate and specific soil profiles, there is a pressing need to evaluate modern clonal rootstocks—such as GF677 and Garnem—against traditional options to optimize nursery output. This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of peach scion-rootstock combinations under Tashkent conditions, identifying the most promising material to support sustainable orchard development.

Methods and Materials

The study was conducted from 2022 to 2024 at a commercial nursery facility located in the Tashkent district, Tashkent region, Uzbekistan. The region is characterized by a sharply continental climate, featuring hot, dry summers and cold winters. The soil at the experimental site is classified as typical sierozem with a silty-loam texture, moderate organic matter content, and a slightly alkaline pH (7.5–7.8). Irrigation was managed via a drip irrigation system to ensure uniform soil moisture levels during the active growth period.

Plant Materials and Grafting Technique. A total of 20 scion-rootstock combinations were evaluated. The scion cultivars included Inzhirniy Noviy, Big Bang, Lola, Krasniy Moskva, and Nectarine Krasniy. These were grafted onto four distinct rootstock types: GF677 (hybrid peach × almond), Garnem (hybrid peach × almond), Peach (Prunus persica), and Almond (Prunus dulcis).

Budding was performed using the T-budding method during the active cambial growth phase (mid-summer). Standard nursery practices, including fertilization (NPK application based on soil analysis), pest control, and weed management, were applied uniformly across all blocks to minimize environmental variance.

Data Collection and Statistical Analysis. The performance of each combination was assessed based on two primary indices:Bud Take Rate (%): Calculated as the percentage of successfully sprouted buds relative to the total number of inoculated rootstocks.

Generalized Score (10-point scale): A multifaceted index developed to evaluate overall plant health, vigor, and union uniformity. Parameters included cambial development, apical growth height, and leaf color, with 10 representing the optimal state and 1 representing failure.

Data were analyzed using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates, each consisting of 50 plants per combination. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the significance of differences between means, followed by the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (p<0.05) to facilitate grouping. All statistical procedures were executed using.

Results. The combinations utilizing the GF677 and Garnem rootstocks achieved the highest generalized scores, all exceeding 9.20. The Inzhirniy Noviy + GF677 combination stands out as the most efficient, yielding the maximum bud take rate of 94.9 %. These results underscore the strong graft compatibility and superior physiological performance of these hybrid clonal rootstocks in our local pedoclimatic conditions (Table-1).

Table 1. Grouping of peach scion-rootstock combinations in nursery

(Tashkent region, Tashkent district, 2022-2024)

Moderate Performance (Group II): Combinations within this group, including those using traditional Peach rootstocks alongside Garnem and GF677, showed stable but slightly lower efficiency, with bud take rates ranging from 85.5 % to 89.7 %. While these combinations are reliable, they indicate that traditional rootstocks may be less responsive to intensive nursery technologies compared to the hybrid alternatives.

Performance Constraints (Group III): The use of Almond as a rootstock consistently resulted in the lowest generalized scores (8.07–8.60). This suggests a potential physiological limitation or lower affinity between the Almond rootstock and the selected scion cultivars under the specific soil and irrigation regimes of the Tashkent district during the 2022–2024 trial period.

Scientific Implications. The data strongly support prioritizing the use of GF677 and Garnem in commercial nurseries to optimize output. The consistency of these results across the three-year study period suggests a high level of reliability for these rootstocks in the Tashkent region. These findings provide a robust basis for recommending standardized production protocols, shifting away from less compatible rootstock combinations to improve overall nursery profitability and plant quality.

Discussion and Recommendations

The evaluation of scion-rootstock combinations under the specific nursery conditions of the Tashkent region (2022–2024) revealed significant variability in both the generalized performance score and the bud take rate. The data, summarized in Table 1, suggest a distinct clustering of the tested combinations into three groups based on their overall adaptability and horticultural efficiency.

Group I (Highly Promising). The combinations involving the GF677 and Garnem rootstocks exhibited the highest performance, consistently achieving generalized scores above 9.20. Notably, Inzhirniy Noviy + GF677 recorded the highest bud take rate of 94.9 %. This result highlights the excellent graft compatibility and physiological affinity of these hybrid rootstocks with the Inzhirniy Noviy cultivar. The superior performance of GF677, often recognized for its vigor and drought tolerance, correlates strongly with our field observations, suggesting its suitability for intensive cultivation systems in Uzbekistan’s arid environments.

Group II (Moderately Effective). This group included combinations with localized Peach rootstocks alongside selections grafted onto Garnem and GF677, with scores ranging from 8.73 to 9.07. While these combinations demonstrate stable growth, their slightly lower bud take rates (85.5 %–89.7 %) compared to Group I indicate a narrower range of graft compatibility. The performance of Krasniy Moskva + Peach (8.73 score) suggests that traditional peach rootstocks, while reliable, may require specific site-adaptive management to reach the performance benchmarks set by modern clonal rootstocks.

Group III (Low Adaptability). The combinations using Almond as a rootstock generally demonstrated the lowest performance metrics (8.07–8.60). Although almond rootstocks are traditionally valued for their tolerance to calcareous soils, our data indicate that for the specific peach cultivars studied, they resulted in lower overall nursery performance. This finding suggests a potential physiological mismatch or sub-optimal scion-rootstock interaction under the specific irrigation and soil conditions of the Tashkent district during the study period.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the data clearly identify GF677 and Garnem as superior rootstock choices for the evaluated peach cultivars in the Tashkent region. Future research will focus on the field-level productivity and fruit quality indices of these Group I combinations to validate their long-term economic viability for local horticultural enterprises.

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