The Texas Prunus Project: Testing the Graft Compatibility of Texas Native Prunus Species

The goal of this project is to determine the graft compatibility of Texas native Prunus species. Texas is home to approximately 13 species of native Prunus, from the diminutive Prunus minutiflora to the majestic Prunus serotina. They are found nearly statewide in a variety of habitats, including deserts, grasslands and forests. Many have edible fruit and several species formerly had named cultivars, though these have long since disappeared. Cultivation of these species is important because they have special adaptations to Texas's rapidly changing climate that the more commonly grown Eurasian Prunus species, like domestic plums, almonds, and peaches, lack. In addition, all of the native Prunus species are extremely valuable to the local ecology of Texas, supporting a huge diversity of insects. One of the most remarkable aspects of Prunus is that is possible to graft scions from one species onto a rootstock of a different species. Commercial Prunus cultivation relies heavily on grafted plants to impart desirable traits like soil compatibility and disease resistance. However, the graft compatibility of Prunus species varies within the genus and is completely unknown for the Texas native Prunus species, making research into this area a key first step in enhancing the cultivation of these amazing plants.

For this research, T-grafting will be used to graft leaf bud scions onto appropriate rootstock. One of the best candidates for grafting is Prunus texana, a shrub commonly known as Texas peachbush or duraznillo. It produces some of the most highly edible fruits of the native Texas Prunus species and forms an easily harvested compact shrub. However the plant requires deep sands, which occur in a very limited area within the state. Other native Prunus species are fully capable of growing in a wide variety of soils, from thin rocky soils to heavy clays. By grafting scions of P. texana onto a rootstock more tolerant of varied soil textures, the plant could be grown successfully in a larger proportion of the state.