North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Anton Callaway <marillen@earthlink.net>]

I've noticed over the years that all the peaches I have on Citation rootstock 
look relatively sick compared to those on standard stock.  They typically 
have poor color in the leaves, not dark green and show epinasty (leaf 
rolling) and increased bacterial spot damage.  The effect is most extreme 
late in the season.

At first I blamed it on the scion cultivar.  My first peach dwarfed on 
Citation was George IV.  I've never grown such a sickly tree before, though 
the peaches were good.  Now I've got more cultivars, including one with a 
standard comparison, Indian Blood Free.  IBF is rather susceptible to 
bacterial spot anyway, but the other symptoms don't show on the standard 
stock.

Have others seen similar effects of dwarfing rootstocks on peaches?  

My genetic dwarfs are all very healthy, so it doesn't appear to be the 
dwarfing per se.  However, another contributor with a good collection of 
peaches has reported similar effects from PumiSelect. 

Anton
Zone 8
Fruit season over, just enjoying the canned pears, preserves, etc.