The mineral nutrient absorbency among 6 different rootstock species (P. persica Batsch., P. tomentosa Thunb., P. japonica Thunb., P. glandulosa Thunb. and P. triloba Lindl.) was tested by sand culture and the influence of these rootstock species on the mineral nutrient contents in scion leaves was investigated with ‘Okubo’ peach, ‘Okitsu’ nectarine and ‘Oishi-wase’ plum trees under field condition.
1. In 6 rootstocks propagated by cuttings, P, Ca and Mg contents in leaves of P. persica were higher than in the other rootstocks. K content in leaves of P. japonica and P. glandulosa was lower than in P. persica while that of P. triloba was higher than in P. persica. Mn content in leves of P. tomentosa, P. japonica and P. glandulosa was higher than in P. persica.
2. In ‘Okubo’ peach, ‘Okitsu’ nectarine and ‘Oishi-wase’ plum grafted on several rootstocks, the mineral nutrient component of their leaves reflected the absorbency of rootstocks accurately.
Mn content in leaves of ‘Okubo’ peach trees grafted on P. tomentosa, P. japonica, P. glandulosa and P. toriloba was higher than in trees grafted on P. persica. In ‘Okitsu’ nectarine and ‘Oishi-wase’ plum trees grafted on P. tomentosa and japonica, Mn content in the leaves was excessively higher than that of trees on P. persica. K content in leaves of ‘Okubo’ peach, ‘Okitsu’ nectarine and ‘Oishi-wase’ plum trees grafted on P. japonica was lower than others and Mg content in trees grafted on P. tomentosa was lower than in others.
3. Abnormal leaf rolling or leaf senescence was observed with ‘Okubo’ peach trees grafted on P. japonica, and ‘Okitsu’ nectarine trees grafted on P. tomentosa or P. japonica.