Prunus rootstock named ‘Nickels’

Abstract

An improved almondxpeach clonal rootstock is provided that was the product of a planned breeding program. It can be used to particular advantage when growing almond cultivars for commercial fruit production. The new rootstock provides excellent anchorage through the presence of a well-branched network of deep roots. The growth habit is vigorous and uniform. Efficient asexual propagation by the use of hardwood cuttings is possible. The resulting plants are well amenable to transplantation and storage and exhibit good pest resistance and winter hardiness. A wide adaptation to nursery growing conditions is achieved. Additionally, the long tern survival of the rootstock has been found to be superior to that of "Hansen 536' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,173) and "Hansen 2168' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,210).

We claim:  
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of almond×peach clonal rootstock tree which exhibits the following combination of characteristics: 
       (a) Forms young branches having a strong reddish-brown overcolor,  
       (b) Forms well-branched deep roots that provide excellent anchorage,  
       (c) Readily undergoes propagation by the use of hardwood cuttings,  
       (d) Exhibits a vigorous and uniform growth habit,  
       (e) Is well amenable to transplantation and practices commonly used in commercial almond production,  
       (f) Forms a fruit and stone having a sharp protruding tip,  
       (g) Is resistant to root-knot nematodes  Meloidegyne incognita acrita  and  Meloidegne javanica , and  
       (h) Is more cold hardy than ‘Hansen 2168’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,210) and ‘Hansen 536’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,173); substantially as illustrated and described.