Effects of water stress and rootstocks on fruit phenolic composition and physical/chemical quality in Suncrest peach

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of water stress and different rootstocks on the quality indices and nutritional characteristics of peach fruit, cv. Suncrest. The results show how pre-harvest factors, such as the type of rootstock and water stress, can influence the quality indices and nutritional properties of peach fruits. Rootstocks type influenced both quality indices such as flesh firmness (FF) and soluble solid content (SSC), but it is unclear how rootstock exerted its influence. Also water stress induced changes in quality indices of peach fruit grafted on GF 677 and Montclar whereas minor effects were recorded when water stress was applied on Penta. The content of hydroxycinnamic acids was similar in control fruits of GF677, Montclar and Penta and it increased significantly only in fruit of trees grafted on GF 677 following water stress. Anthocyanins content in fruit of control plants was higher in Montclar in comparison with the fruit grafted on the other two rootstocks while procyanidin content was higher in fruit of control plants grafted on Penta. Following the water stress an increase in total anthocyanins was observed in GF 677 and Penta whereas no significant differences were found for Montclar. Water stress induced a significant decrease in procyanidin content in Penta. In conclusion in fruits of trees grafted on Penta following water stress quality indices did not show changes but significant variations in some phytochemicals, i.e. anthocyanins and procyanindins were observed. The results suggest that the regulation of water management is an important factor to maintain a good quality of the fruits. In fact, if irrigation stress can induce a higher biosynthesis of phytochemical compounds and an increase of SSC, at the same time, it can change fruit quality traits, such as a lower FW in Montclar, a higher titratable acidity (TA) in GF 677 and Penta and a lower FF in Gf 677 and Montclar.