Correlation of biometrical characteristics of fruit and seed with twinning and vigor of Prunus persica rootstocks

Abstract: This study aimed at determining and correlating the main morphometric characteristics of fruits and seeds with the germination potential and vigor of eight peach rootstocks. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications of 50 seeds per treatment. The analyzed variables were: length, width, thickness, fresh mass of fruit and seeds, moisture content of seeds, percentage of seeds attacked by fungi and intact seeds, germination percentage, germination speed index (GSI) and mean germination time (MGT). The Capdeboscq, Aldrighi and Tsukuba 1 cultivars showed higher values of length, width, thickness and fresh mass of seeds compared to other cultivars, presenting a relationship with the later period of fruit ripening. Regardless of the fruit ripening time, the germination percentage was high, ranging between 93% and 100% for all cultivars. In addition, the fresh mass of fruits has showed a high positive correlation with the fresh mass of seeds for the eight evaluated peach rootstocks. The GSI and MGT have a high relationship with the fresh mass of seeds.