Characterization and selection of Prunus rootstocks resistant to abiotic stresses: waterrlogging, water deficit and iron chlorosis

Stone fruits (Prunus spp.) are mainly grown in Mediterranean climates. The objective of a rootstock breeding program is to obtain a new 2 and 3-way rootstock generation, not only resistant to RKN nematodes, but also better adapted to Mediterranean environments that exhibit abiotic stresses (drought, chlorosis and waterlogging). This was done by the characterization of new interspecific material between nematode resistant Myrobalan plums, P. cerasifera (P.2980 and P.2175) and the peach (P. persica) × almond (P. amygdalus) hybrids: GN 15 (‘Garnem’) and GN 22 (‘Felinem’). The first data on the characterization of this plant material has revealed that tolerance to waterlogging and propagation ability, characteristics of the Myrobalan parent, have been inherited to a satisfactory level. Characterization for drought and chlorosis tolerance has also shown a satisfactory level of inheritance from the almond parent and from the almond × peach hybrids GxN. The plant material already characterized is the basis for new approaches to better understand the mechanism of tolerance to abiotic stresses.