PROGNOSIS AND CORRECTION OF IRON CHLOROSIS IN PEACH-TREES - INFLUENCEON

A floral analysis for iron (Fe) content allowed for the prognosis of t he incidence of the Fe chlorosis on peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) t rees (c.v. 'Babygold 7' grafted on seedlings) with high reliability. F rom a total of 35 peach trees analyzed, six of them had floral Fe dry matter concentrations less than 133 ppm and these six trees later deve loped severe Fe chlorosis in their leaves. The early detection and cor rection of Fe deficiency permitted us to measure the influence of Fe c hlorosis on fruit quality as Fe correction resulted in a doubling of f ruit size and avoidance of the delay of fruit ripeness that occurred o n the Fe-deficient trees.