Propagation techniques and nursery management for the production of certified peach plants in Europe

The propagation of fruit trees, particularly peaches, nectarines and canning clingstone, has reached highly specialized levels since the 1960s. Over the years, the classic seed rootstocks have been replaced by numerous rootstocks produced in vitro, expanding the range of technical solutions for the different soil and climatic growing conditions of several areas. Thanks to the new genotypes from international breeding programs, it was thus possible to renew the cultivated varietal platform several times. Propagation techniques have also undergone an evolution, adopting solutions aimed at shortening nurseries’ production cycles by using June budding or micrografting. Finally, there are different types of plants available for peach growers. Bare root plants, potted trees of different sizes with several mixture also activated by bio agents are suitable for the different growing and training systems to be adopted. In order to guarantee trueness to type and plant health and to counteract the introduction and spread of dangerous harmful organisms in Europe, at EU level, production and marketing of plant propagation materials is also regulated by mandatory standards for peach trees, although it is possible to join to voluntary certification schemes which ensure higher guarantee to the plants. All these issues are being discussed in the current article.