COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF BIOLOGICAL COMPETENCE AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF PEACH (PRUNUS PERSICA [L.] BATSCH) VARIETY-ROOTSTOCK COMBINATIONS IN UZBEKISTAN CONDITIONS

The optimization of scion-rootstock interactions is a fundamental determinant of productivity in modern pomology. This study presents a multi-criteria evaluation of four peach rootstocks (Peach seedling, Almond seedling, GF677, Garnem) and five peach varieties (Big Bang, Lola, Krasniy Moskva, Anjir shaftoli, Nektarin krasniy) cultivated under specific pedoclimatic conditions. Utilizing a biometric scoring system, we analyzed growth vigor, stress tolerance (drought and heat), compatibility, and yield parameters. The results demonstrate that the clonal rootstock GF677 exhibits superior adaptability, achieving the highest mean general characteristic score (4.5/5.0), significantly outperforming generative rootstocks. Among the cultivars, ‘Anjir shaftoli’ and ‘Big Bang’ displayed the highest yield potential (4.8/5.0). Furthermore, the study identifies specific high-value combinations, with ‘Anjir shaftoli’ grafted on GF677 achieving the highest generalized assessment score (9.10/10), classifying it within the elite Group I of variety-rootstock combinations. These findings provide a scientific basis for recommending specific vegetative rootstocks for establishing high-density, stress-resilient peach orchards.