MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF DIFFERENT STONE FRUIT SPECIES BUDDED ON PEACH ROOTSTOCK UNDER AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF MANSEHRA, PAKISTAN

Morphological study of different stone fruit species i.e., peach, plum, apricot and almond, budded on peach rootstock under agro-climatic conditions of Mansehra was conducted during 2009. The selected scions of Apricot (Casle bright), Plum (Fazalimanani), Peach (Number 7), and Almond (Nonperial) were budded on wild peach rootstock. Significant differences were found in plant healing after 11 days, sprouting after 51 and 65 days, bud take success, number of shoots per budding, shoot length, shoot girth, number of leaves on primary shoots and number of branches per budding, while no significant differences were observed in 8 days after budding and sprouting after 36-42 days. Maximum healing after 11 days of budding (100%), sprouting after 65 days (90%), shoot girth (0.73cm) and number of branches (61) were found in peach. Similarly, maximum number of shoots per buddling (37.75) and shoot length (106.02 cm) was observed in plum.Plum and peach (both) also showed maximum percentage of bud take success i.e., 90. On the other hand, peach showed minimum number of leaves (34.05) but almond showed maximum number of leaves (117.45), minimum number of shoots per buddling (20.25), shoot girth (0.51cm) and plant sprout after 65 days (68%). Likewise, in apricot bud take success (57%) and plant healing (95%) were recorded minimum.