Susceptibility of ´real fino´and ´canino´apricot seedlings to capnode

Abstract

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) rootstocks have been described as more susceptible to capnode (Capnodis tenebrionis L.) than other species of Prunus. In Spain, ‘Real Fino’ and ‘Canino’ seedlings are the two most important rootstocks for apricot. In this work the susceptibility of seedlings of these cultivars to capnode grubs was studied. Damage and presence of grubs in roots were observed three months after inoculating the plants with eggs of capnode. Subsequently, roots were analysed by HPLC to determine the prunasin contents. The results showed a high variability among the seedlings in both cultivars regarding damage in roots and prunasin contents. Furthermore, a high correlation between resistance to capnode grubs and prunasin content in roots was observed. This relationship would allow the breeding of new resistant rootstocks from these cultivars, which could be propagated by vegetative reproduction.