The objective of this research was to characterize the morphology of 'Rigitano' mume cultivar and Clones 05 and 15 (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.), selected at the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo State, Brazil, as clonal rootstocks for peach tree [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch]. Leaves, branches, flowers, fruits and seeds were collected and characterized morphologically from mother mume plants that were 2 years old, maintained in field conditions. It is not possible to distinguish mume Clones 05, 15 and 'Rigitano' cultivar by morphology and biometric characteristics of its flowers and fruits. Although the biggest petiole length was observed in the Clone 05 and shorter dimensions and mass of endocarps and seeds were observed in the 'Rigitano' cultivar, these characteristics do not constitute a practical method for genotype differentiation. Clone 15 can be distinguished from the others genotypes after February pruning, by the absence of red-dark leaves in young branches with up to 50 cm of length.
Prunus mume; morphology; stone fruits
