Graft incompatibility induces susceptibility increase of peach cultivars to Xanthomonas arboricola pv. Pruni

The objective of this study was to evaluate the graft compatibility, susceptibility to bacterial leaf spot and fruiting on eight combinations, as well as the influence of graft compatibility in the severity of the disease and fruiting. The research was conducted at the field under natural bacterial infection, in the Agricultural Center of Palma, belonging to the FAEM/UFPel, in Capão do Leão-RS. It was evaluated the combinations composed by grafting among the 'Chimarrita' and 'Maciel' cultivars and the rootstocks 'Aldrighi', 'Capdeboscq', 'Tsukuba 1' and 'Umezeiro'. The orchard was implanted in a randomized block design with four replications, each experimental unit composed of five plants. The graft compatibility, stem diameter, injury severity, disease index, leaf area and fruiting were evaluated. The combinations between 'Chimarrita' and 'Maciel' cultivars and 'Umezeiro' rootstocks showed lower graft compatibility, highest injury severity, disease index, as well as, lower fruiting. The results obtained allow to conclude that 'Chimarrita'/'Umezeiro' and 'Maciel'/ 'Umezeiro' combinations are incompatibles, more susceptible to bacterial leaf spot and less productive compared to the others. Furthermore, the graft incompatibility induces higher susceptibility of plants to bacterial leaf spot infection, resulting in greater disease severity and lower fruiting

Prunus; bacterial leaf spot; graft incompatibility; rootstock